A deadline has passed for YouTube to answer a series of questions from House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan regarding the alleged censorship of a content creator who made allegations of "serious misconduct" at the FBI.
In a letter addressed at Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai on October 7, Jordan says the House Judiciary Committee has "obtained documents showing that the federal government successfully pressured YouTube" to "censor certain content, including content that did not violate YouTube's content moderation policies."
"Now, YouTube appears to have censored a video in which FBI whistleblower Marcus Allen, a witness before the Select Subcommittee, detailed serious misconduct at the FBI and expressed his deeply held religious beliefs," the letter adds, calling the alleged conduct part of a "pattern of anti-conservative political bias."
The letter requested information on the decision and "communications between YouTube and the Biden-Harris Administration relating to this censorship." It goes on to detail the video, saying that Allen shared "how the FBI targeted him for his political and religious beliefs, how the FBI's retaliation affected him and his family, and how he relied on his faith during the ordeal." "Almost immediately, YouTube censored his story and religious expression," the document claims.
Jordan also alleged that the government has "sought to silence" Allen since his suspension due to "his personal medical decisions, his religious beliefs and for questioning FBI leadership." For that reason, he gave the company until Monday, October 21, to comply with the demand. It is unclear whether YouTube has done so.
The document also requested information on what protections YouTube provides "for speech that is explicitly religious or political" and whether it applies in this case, as well as the teams that are responsible for carrying out the decision.
It ends by reminding Pichai that a 2023 subpoena to the company is "continuing in nature," requiring the submission of documents.
Originally published on Latin Times.
