Overview

• President-elect Donald Trump has named Brendan Carr as the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), calling him a 'warrior for free speech.'
• Carr plans to target tech companies like Facebook, Google, and Apple, which he accuses of forming a 'censorship cartel' that restricts conservative voices online.
• A key focus of Carr’s agenda is reinterpreting Section 230, a law that shields online platforms from liability for user-generated content, though legal experts question the FCC's authority to enforce such changes.
• Carr has pledged to enforce transparency rules for tech platforms, requiring companies to disclose actions like content moderation, search result rankings, and demonetization decisions.
• Critics argue that Carr's focus on online speech exceeds the FCC's traditional role, which primarily involves regulating broadband, telecom privacy, and media fairness.