Sen. Josh Hawley talks data privacy, censorship and DOGE

For years, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley has called out tech companies, arguing they exploit users’ private information.

Hawley also argues that these platforms have censored conservative voices.

It’s an allegation that arose among those on the right after President Biden pressured social media companies to fact check users and go after hate speech online.

There’s no clear evidence of an anti-conservative bias, and both the left and right have alleged suppression of speech online.

Now that President Trump is back in the White House, relationships with big tech are shifting. Meta, for example, has stopped fact-checking in the United States.

Hawley says his mission to hold tech firms accountable hasn’t changed.

This interview was lightly edited for length and clarity.