YouTube Suppressing 2A Related Content? Jim Jordan Wants Answers

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) has sent a letter to the legal counsel for YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, demanding answers as to whether changes to YouTube’s moderation policies over firearms-related content were made due to pressure from government officials.

Jordan is Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee of Weaponization of the Federal Government.

The letter seeks information as to why the Google-owned platform began age-restricting content showing the assembly of homemade firearms, including 3D printed parts, automatic firearms and some accessories that can simulate automatic fire. The new policy also restricts content showing how to remove fixed magazine devices.

Jordan is looking for answers as to whether that decision to further restrict content was do to influence by government officials.

Earlier this week, Jordan reposted a tweet that shares his letter in its entirety.

#NEWS: Chairman @Jim_Jordan demands answers on YouTube’s new #2A content restriction policy.@YouTube‘s decision to change its firearms policy may have been influenced by government officials to suppress 2A-related content.

Read the letter to YouTube: https://t.co/DTg1AybuUG pic.twitter.com/OMJxtEu8KW

— Weaponization Committee (@Weaponization) June 18, 2024

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wrote a letter to YouTube in April, expressing his concern over so-called “ghost guns” that are assembled by private individuals and do not have serial numbers.

Bragg asked that such content be removed and that YouTube also stop recommending violent videos to young viewers.

Following YouTube’s announcement of it’s new content restrictions, Bragg thanked the company for its “responsiveness and willingness to work with our office.”

Jordan’s letter stated:

“Given that YouTube has censored First Amendment-protected speech as a result of government agencies’ requests and demands in the past, these revelations raise serious concerns about whether and to what extent the Executive Branch is working with third parties and other intermediaries to coerce and/or collude with YouTube to censor lawful speech regarding the Second Amendment and firearms.”

The Hill reports that the request for documents would be part of a “continuing subpoena” already issued by Jordan’s committee in February of 2023.