Is Jeff Bezos Really Championing Free Speech or Just Playing Politics?

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Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is taking a stand for free speech. Or is he?

Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos, issued a bold mandate for The Washington Post, which caused a stir within journalism. He directed the editorial team to concentrate heavily on free market systems and individual freedoms. Unsurprisingly, some liberal-leaning reporters at the paper expressed discomfort.

One quit on the spot.

That speaks volumes as to where journalists stand on core U.S. values today.

It’s not surprising, given the context. For instance, notice how CBS News has adapted to the current times by advocating for speech monitors.

We could cheer Bezos’ decree, and many are doing just that.

Look closer.

Amazon, under the leadership of Jeff Bezos, has often suppressed artistic content that deviated from a progressive perspective. This is something that filmmaker and journalist Mike Cernovich can attest to.

According to Cernovich, Amazon not only prohibited his 2019 documentary “Hoaxed” once, but they did so on two separate occasions. Previously, HiT had covered this topic.

The 2020 documentary “What Killed Michael Brown?” by director Eli Steele came close to facing a similar situation. At first, Amazon’s editorial team refused to make it available on their platform, arguing that the film’s supposed lack of quality was the reason.

Steele’s movies showcase meticulous workmanship and intricate storytelling, sparking a swift whirlwind of media coverage that prompted Amazon to reconsider its stance.

At first, the large streaming service planned to broadcast director Michael Pack’s film “Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words.” This 2020 production was initially aired on PBS, providing a rare opportunity for the private Supreme Court justice to tell his inspiring life story.

Then, without warning, Amazon removed the documentary from its platform during Black History Month.

No explanation.

Film producer Robby Starbuck encountered a contemporary hurdle with Amazon recently. Last year, Amazon’s censorship team prevented the release of his film, “The War on Children,” which scrutinizes the sexualization of minors in today’s society.

Good luck finding it on Amazon’s streaming marketplace. It’s also unavailable to buy in DVD form.

Still.

Need more?

Last year, the official Amazon page for author Jack Posobiec’s book “Bulletproof” displayed an incorrect cover. This book is about the assassination attempt on candidate Donald Trump, which it recalls.

In a twist, director Amanda Milius’ 2020 documentary titled “The Plot Against the President” experienced an unexpected hold-up in approval from Amazon. This delay sparked interest from a traditional media source. Notably, this film exposed the Russian Collusion Hoax as a false narrative before many news outlets confirmed the truth.

That delay mattered.

Milius’ team planned to launch the movie in October, with the aim of informing voters ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

In some instances, these matters didn’t receive coverage from traditional news outlets. Given Bezos’ busy schedule, it could be that he remained unaware of any censorship activities within his company.

Possible, but unlikely. He couldn’t have missed these censorship stories.

In 2021, the company prohibited Ryan Anderson’s book “When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment” due to it being labeled as “hate speech” against the transgender community, while still allowing orders for Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.

Amazon, under pressure from the Biden administration, has additionally taken steps to restrict or remove books that question the effectiveness or safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

It’s possible that Bezos’s recent decision may indicate a sincere shift in his stance. Just as Mark Zuckerberg made a U-turn on Facebook’s allegedly biased fact-checking system following Donald Trump’s November 5th win.

1. It’s possible that the Amazon tycoon has had a change of heart, similar to others. Alternatively, his actions could be an effort to deceive advocates for free speech throughout the country.

2. The Amazon billionaire might have experienced an enlightenment akin to others. On the other hand, his orders seem designed to mislead those who support free speech across the nation.

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2025-02-27 22:03