White House to Censor “Misinformation” About Economy

Written by Hudson Crozier

What’s happening: The White House “is working with TikTok creators to tell positive stories of” President Joe Biden’s economy, “while also working with social media platforms to counter misinformation,” the Washington Post reported.

• Catch up: This censorship and propaganda campaign was sparked by, among other things, a TikTok user complaining about a McDonald’s meal costing $16.

• Who’s on the case: The White House Office of Digital Strategy has begun tracking “exaggerated” posts about the economy ahead of the 2024 election, according to the Post. This office also coordinated censorship related to COVID-19, prompting a First Amendment lawsuit against its previous director.

Why it matters: Polling continually shows most voters believe the economy is doing poorly, Biden’s policies are to blame, and that it is a top issue determining their vote in 2024 — a lethal combination for Biden’s reelection campaign.

• So, the Biden administration has gone from denying their concerns to silencing them, seeking to sway the election by controlling the flow of information online.

• What misinformation? Prices for everyday items such as fast food have risen under Biden, as even the Washington Post admits. Notably, the White House has a history of targeting claims it knows are true or wrongly labeling facts as untrue.

Zoom out: The right-leaning Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could end the federal government’s collusion with online platforms to censor viewpoints. For now, the court is allowing this activity to continue.