A newly hired White House digital staffer penned a blog post in 2021 expressing support for the social media ban on former President Donald Trump and criticizing the platforms for allowing world leaders to use their accounts for "propaganda."
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has declared a case before the Supreme Court involving alleged collusion between President Biden's administration and Big Tech companies to censor specific speech as "the most important First Amendment suit in this nation's history."
The case, filed by Missouri, Louisiana, and Texas, alleges that the Biden administration pressured social media platforms to suppress viewpoints it deemed harmful, violating the First Amendment rights of Americans.
White House Hires Official Who Celebrated Trump's Social Media Ban
In a newly uncovered blog post, Andy Volosky, who recently joined the White House's Office of Digital Strategy as deputy director of platforms, celebrated the ban on Trump's social media accounts following the January 6 Capitol riots.
Volosky called the ban "welcome steps to limiting anyone's ability to incite real-world violence." He also argued that social media companies should continue to crack down on users who promote violence or spread misinformation.
White House Hires Official Who Celebrated Trump's Social Media Ban
"Twitter still allows the accounts of various world leaders, governments, and spokespeople, who use Twitter for what one can only describe as propaganda as cover for autocracy, to continue to use their platform," Volosky wrote.
He urged social media companies to take content moderation and user safety more seriously, highlighting the potential for platforms to be used for harmful purposes.
White House Hires Official Who Celebrated Trump's Social Media Ban
Volosky's new role at the White House comes on the heels of the hiring of Megan Coyne, who previously served as social media director for New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
Coyne has been credited with giving the White House's social media accounts a more aggressive tone, posting "feisty" and "punchy" tweets.
White House Hires Official Who Celebrated Trump's Social Media Ban
Volosky previously worked for Middle Seat Consulting, a progressive digital agency that has close ties to Democratic political organizations.
A White House spokesperson defended Volosky's hiring, stating that he was "proud to have Andy on the team" and emphasizing the administration's commitment to protecting national security and informing Americans about the president's work.
The spokesperson's comments echo concerns raised by Rob Flaherty, the former director of digital strategy for the White House. Flaherty has admitted to working with Facebook on behalf of the Biden administration to target conversations that expressed skepticism about COVID-19 vaccines.
The White House has insisted that social media companies make independent decisions about the information they present but has also urged them to consider the potential impact of their platforms on American society.
The Supreme Court case that Bailey has described as the "most important First Amendment suit in this nation's history" is set to be heard in the coming months. The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the future of free speech online.
