The logo of Google LLC is shown on a building in San Diego, California, U.S., October 9, 2024. REUTERS
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey leaves the U.S. Supreme Court after justices heard arguments in an appeal by President Joe Biden’s administration of restrictions imposed by lower courts on its ability to encourage social media companies to remove content deemed misinformation, in Washington, U.S., March 18, 2024. REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Missouri’s Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey said on Thursday he was launching an investigation into Google (GOOGL.O), over allegations that it was censoring conservative speech.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Republicans have long claimed an anti-conservative bias on social media platforms. Tech firms have denied their platforms censor conservative voices.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is in a tight race for the Nov. 5 presidential election against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, said last month he will seek the prosecution of Google if he wins the election.
Trump and his supporters have alleged without evidence that Google searches displayed only “bad stories” about the former U.S. president.
KEY QUOTE
“I am launching an investigation into Google – the biggest search engine in America – for censoring conservative speech during the most consequential election in our nation’s history,” Bailey said in a post, on social media platform X. His post did not cite any example or evidence for his censorship claim.
Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler and Sonali Paul
