The "de-platforming" of Donald Trump by Twitter, Facebook, and Google-owned YouTube—that is, Big Tech—recently garnered big headlines. Trump's change in status has raised cries among some conservatives of "censorship." Yet a more libertarian view holds that these are private companies that have a right to control their own content, just as private broadcast and print media do. The word "censorship" has been traditionally and more appropriately applied to government violations of the Constitution's First Amendment guarantee of free speech.

More disturbing might be Big Tech's aiding of law enforcement's violations of the rights of individuals at home and contributions to the military's violation of human rights abroad. Despite its reputation for independence, it has recently been revealed that Big Tech's relationship with the American national security establishment may be stronger than was previously thought. At some tech firms, workforce opposition has arisen over company contracts with the military and law enforcement. Yet these employee objections have usually led the companies to hide such government business through the use of mundane and nondescript subcontractors.