In 2024, the battle over online censorship continues to rage across the digital landscape, with Truth Social—the social media platform founded by Donald Trump—becoming one of the central battlegrounds. The platform, initially created as an alternative to what many conservative voices perceived as bias on mainstream platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, quickly grew to become a haven for users seeking a place to express free speech without the interference of Big Tech companies.
However, as Truth Social’s influence expanded in 2024, so did the challenges it faced. While the platform itself prides itself on promoting free expression, it has been increasingly targeted by Big Tech companies in various ways, from app store disputes to backend service limitations. This blog post will explore how Truth Social has been impacted by Big Tech censorship, examine the broader implications of this conflict, and delve into the future of online speech in a world where technological giants control much of the digital infrastructure.
The Rise of Truth Social
Launched in February 2022, Truth Social was positioned as a direct response to what its founders and supporters saw as the growing censorship of conservative voices on major platforms. The rise of content moderation policies on sites like Twitter and Facebook—often framed as measures to combat misinformation—led to the deplatforming of several prominent conservative figures, including Donald Trump himself in January 2021. In response, Truth Social was designed to offer an uncensored space for users to share their views, particularly those that might not align with the political leanings of Silicon Valley.
By 2024, Truth Social had established itself as a key player in the right-leaning digital ecosystem, with millions of users flocking to the platform to discuss topics often sidelined or restricted on mainstream sites. However, this growth also caught the attention of Big Tech companies, who began to push back against the platform in various ways, raising concerns about censorship and the broader impact on digital free speech.
Big Tech’s Role in Online Speech
To understand the extent of Big Tech’s role in online censorship, it’s important to first grasp the power dynamics at play in the digital world. Companies like Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Twitter wield enormous influence over the internet. These tech giants are not only platforms for users to communicate and share content, but they also control critical aspects of the digital infrastructure—such as web hosting, app distribution, and even payment processing.
By determining what is allowed and what is not on their platforms, these companies effectively shape the boundaries of online speech. For years, conservatives have argued that Big Tech has consistently used this power to silence voices that deviate from the progressive mainstream, pointing to the deplatforming of prominent right-wing figures as evidence. This has made Truth Social a natural target for these companies, given its origins and user base.
Censorship by App Stores: The Battle with Apple and Google
One of the earliest and most prominent examples of Truth Social’s battle against Big Tech censorship occurred in the realm of app distribution. Both Apple’s App Store and Google Play serve as gatekeepers for mobile applications, controlling which apps are available for download on billions of devices worldwide. While these platforms provide essential services for distributing apps, they also maintain strict content policies that developers must adhere to in order to remain listed.
Truth Social’s journey in getting listed—and staying listed—on these app stores has been fraught with obstacles. In early 2022, Truth Social faced delays in its approval process with Apple, which raised concerns about content moderation practices on the platform. Apple, along with Google, argued that apps must comply with their policies on misinformation, hate speech, and incitement to violence. Truth Social, which champions free speech and minimal content moderation, was seen as a potential violator of these terms.
In response to these concerns, Truth Social committed to adopting a moderation system that could meet app store requirements while maintaining its stance on free speech. However, critics from within the platform’s community argued that any form of moderation imposed by external entities like Apple or Google would inevitably lead to censorship, undermining the platform’s core mission.
The tensions between Truth Social and these app stores came to a head in 2024, when Google threatened to remove the app from Google Play, citing concerns about content that allegedly violated their guidelines. This move was seen by many as an attempt to stifle Truth Social’s reach and limit its access to the millions of Android users worldwide. Apple, too, continued to closely monitor the platform, and while Truth Social remained available on the App Store, it was subject to ongoing scrutiny.
The fact that Big Tech companies, particularly Apple and Google, wield the power to deplatform entire applications is a stark reminder of how dependent smaller platforms are on these tech giants for distribution. Without access to the two dominant app stores, Truth Social’s ability to expand its user base would be severely restricted, placing it at the mercy of Big Tech’s policies.
Web Hosting and Backend Services: Lessons from Parler
Another significant aspect of Big Tech censorship concerns the role of backend services like web hosting and cloud storage. The infamous example of Parler, another right-wing social media platform, serves as a cautionary tale for Truth Social and similar platforms. In January 2021, Parler was effectively taken offline after Amazon Web Services (AWS), which hosted the platform’s servers, terminated its contract, citing a failure to moderate content that incited violence.
While Truth Social has not faced a similar shutdown, it remains vulnerable to the same infrastructure-based censorship that brought down Parler. If any of the major cloud providers—Amazon, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure—were to sever ties with Truth Social, it could lead to a complete shutdown of the platform. This raises concerns about the monopolistic nature of these companies and their ability to control access to essential digital infrastructure.
Truth Social has likely taken steps to mitigate this risk by diversifying its hosting and server needs, but the threat remains a looming one. In a world where a handful of companies control the majority of cloud services, the potential for infrastructure-based censorship is a serious concern for platforms that position themselves as alternatives to the mainstream.
Payment Processors: Financial Censorship in the Digital Age
Another avenue through which Big Tech has exerted control over Truth Social is via payment processors. Companies like PayPal, Stripe, and credit card networks have increasingly become enforcers of content moderation, cutting off financial services to platforms and individuals who violate their terms of service.
For example, in 2021, PayPal and Stripe cut ties with several conservative figures and organizations, citing concerns over spreading misinformation or inciting violence. While Truth Social has not been entirely cut off from payment processors, it has faced difficulties in establishing relationships with mainstream financial services due to its association with conservative politics.
This form of financial censorship is particularly insidious, as it can cripple a platform’s ability to generate revenue. Without access to mainstream payment processors, Truth Social could struggle to fund its operations, pay staff, or provide services to its users. Some platforms have turned to cryptocurrencies as a workaround, but the volatility and regulatory uncertainty surrounding digital currencies make them an imperfect solution.
The power of payment processors to decide which platforms can accept funds or make transactions is yet another example of how Big Tech’s influence extends far beyond social media platforms themselves. It underscores the challenges that Truth Social faces in maintaining financial independence in a digital ecosystem dominated by companies that may not align with its values.
The Broader Implications of Censorship
The ongoing conflict between Truth Social and Big Tech has broader implications for the future of online speech and the power dynamics in the digital world. As platforms like Truth Social continue to grow, they challenge the monopolistic control that Big Tech companies have over the internet. However, the various forms of censorship—whether through app store removals, infrastructure shutdowns, or financial restrictions—highlight the fragility of these alternative platforms.
This raises key questions about the role of government in regulating Big Tech. Some conservatives have called for increased regulation of companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon, arguing that they wield too much power over the digital public square. Others advocate for antitrust measures to break up these tech giants, ensuring that no single company has the power to silence entire platforms or viewpoints.
On the other hand, defenders of Big Tech’s policies argue that content moderation is necessary to prevent the spread of dangerous misinformation and to maintain the safety of users. They claim that platforms like Truth Social, which emphasize free speech at the expense of moderation, contribute to the spread of harmful content, and that companies have a right to enforce their policies.
Conclusion: The Future of Truth Social and Big Tech Censorship
As of 2024, the battle between Truth Social and Big Tech censorship shows no signs of abating. While Truth Social has successfully carved out a space for itself as a platform for free speech, it remains vulnerable to the levers of power controlled by Big Tech companies. Whether through app store removals, backend service disruptions, or financial censorship, the influence of these tech giants looms large over the platform’s future.
The fight for free speech online is not limited to Truth Social alone; it is a broader struggle that will shape the future of the digital public square. As the conflict between Big Tech and alternative platforms like Truth Social continues, the debate over censorship, content moderation, and the role of technology in democracy will only intensify.
The outcome of this struggle will have far-reaching implications, not just for Truth Social, but for all internet users who care about the future of free expression in a world dominated by a handful of powerful tech companies. The balance between free speech and content moderation will ultimately determine the trajectory of the internet—and the degree to which individuals and platforms can operate independently of Big Tech’s control.