FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez FCC Democrat slams chairman for aiding Trump’s “campaign of censorship” Biggest threat to free speech "is coming from our own government," Gomez says. Jon Brodkin – Apr 23, 2025 4:23 pm | 13 FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez. Credit: FCC FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez. Credit: FCC Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more A Democratic member of the Federal Communications Commission plans what she calls a First Amendment tour to fight the Trump administration's "ongoing campaign of censorship and control." "Since the founding of our country, the First Amendment has protected our fundamental right to speak freely and hold power to account. Today, the greatest threat to that freedom is coming from our own government," Commissioner Anna Gomez said yesterday. Gomez plans to focus on FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's actions against news broadcasters and tech firms. Under Carr, "the FCC is being weaponized to attack freedom of speech in the media and telecommunications sector instead of focusing on its core mission—connecting the public, protecting consumers, and supporting competition," Gomez's announcement said. Gomez's office said "she is partnering with consumer and civil society organizations across the ideological spectrum to participate in speaking engagements and listening sessions focused on protecting the rights and freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment." The first event is scheduled for Thursday and will be hosted by the Center for Democracy and Technology. The events will be open to the public and livestreamed when possible, and feature various speakers on free speech, media, and telecommunications issues. With Democrat Geoffrey Starks planning to leave the commission soon, Republicans will gain a 2–1 majority, and Gomez is set to be the only Democrat on the FCC for at least a while. Carr is meanwhile pursuing news distortion investigations into CBS and ABC, and he has threatened Comcast with a similar probe into its subsidiary NBC. Gomez's press release criticized Carr for these and other actions. "From investigating broadcasters for editorial decisions in their newsrooms, to harassing private companies for their fair hiring practices, to threatening tech companies that respond to consumer demand for fact-checking tools, the FCC's actions have focused on weaponizing the agency's authority to silence critics," Gomez's office said. Gomez previously criticized Carr for reviving news distortion complaints that were dismissed shortly before Trump's inauguration. "We cannot allow our licensing authority to be weaponized to curtail freedom of the press," she said at the time. Jon Brodkin Senior IT Reporter Jon Brodkin Senior IT Reporter Jon is a Senior IT Reporter for Ars Technica. He covers the telecom industry, Federal Communications Commission rulemakings, broadband consumer affairs, court cases, and government regulation of the tech industry. 13 Comments