# Are Social Networks Censoring Conservatives?

**URL:** <https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/free-thoughts/are-social-networks-censoring-conservatives>

**By** Matthew Feeney, John Samples, Aaron Ross Powell, Trevor Burrus

**Published:** May 29, 2020

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Trevor and Aaron are joined by Cato’s Matthew Feeney and John Samples (a new member of the Facebook Oversight Board), to talk about the pros and cons of content moderation.

Matthew Feeney and John Samples join the show today to talk about how private companies moderate their vast social networks. Recently, Facebook announced its’ new Oversight Board and Cato Institute’s very own, John Samples, is one of the members. The Board will effectively take final and binding decisions on whether specific content should be allowed or removed from Facebook and Instagram.

Are big tech companies censoring conservative viewpoints? How should we talk about conservative bias? Can governments censor private companies? Does Facebook have to be transparent about what content they moderate?

## Further Reading:

[Conservative Big Tech Campaign Based on Myths and Misunderstanding](https://medium.com/@M_Feeney/conservative-big-tech-campaign-based-on-myths-and-misunderstanding-a58160c8a785), written by Matthew Feeney

[Big Tech Is Not Engaging in Coronavirus Censorship](https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/big-tech-not-engaging-coronavirus-censorship), written by Matthew Feeney

[Government Should Stay out of Social Media](https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/government-should-stay-out-social-media), written by John Samples

[Speech in a Time of War](https://www.cato.org/blog/speech-time-war), written by John Samples

[Facebook announced the first 20 members of its oversight board that will decide what controversial content is allowed on Facebook and Instagram](https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-announces-first-members-oversight-board-instagram-2020-5), written by Rob Price and Reuters

## Related Content:

[What Made the Internet Possible?](https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/building-tomorrow/what-made-the-internet-possible), Building Tomorrow Podcast

[Free Speech Online: Unfriended](https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/building-tomorrow/free-speech-online-unfriended), Free Thoughts Podcast

[Social Media’s Moral Panic (with Milton Mueller)](https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/free-thoughts/social-medias-moral-panic), Free Thoughts Podcast