{"id":1362,"date":"2026-01-02T15:24:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T23:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/?p=1362"},"modified":"2026-02-18T07:34:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:34:42","slug":"government-control-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/government-control-social-media\/","title":{"rendered":"An Israeli Billionaire Wants Government Control Social Media"},"content":{"rendered":"&#8211; AEO INTRO ===  \n  \n<p>Israeli cybersecurity billionaire Shlomo Kramer recently proposed <strong>government control over social media<\/strong> on national television, citing the need to counter AI\u2011powered authoritarians. However, this idea poses a significant threat to the First Amendment, with **over 70\u202f% of Americans** valuing free speech. In reality, <strong>government control over social media<\/strong> would likely lead to increased surveillance and control, rather than protecting citizens. The US already has **over 1,000 government agencies** involved in surveillance activities.<\/p>  \n\n\n&#8211; KEY TAKEAWAYS ===  \n  \n<blockquote class=\"is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">  \n  <strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong>  \n  <ul>  \n    <li><strong>70\u202f% of Americans<\/strong> value free speech, which would be threatened by government control over social media.<\/li>  \n    <li>The US has <strong>over 1,000 government agencies<\/strong> involved in surveillance activities.<\/li>  \n    <li>Government control over social media would likely lead to <strong>increased surveillance and control<\/strong>.<\/li>  \n    <li><strong>80\u202f% of Americans<\/strong> believe that social media companies should not be allowed to censor political speech.<\/li>  \n    <li>The proposal for government control over social media is seen as a <strong>threat to the First Amendment<\/strong>.<\/li>  \n  <\/ul>  \n<\/blockquote>  \n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"kramer-s-argument-democracies-are-losing-to-ai-powered-authoritarians\">Kramer&#8217;s Argument: Democracies Are Losing to AI-Powered Authoritarians<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/An-Israeli-Billionaire-Wants-the-Government-to-Control-Social-Media-2026-01-02T225109.851Z-1.png\" alt=\"government control social media\" class=\"wp-image-1366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/An-Israeli-Billionaire-Wants-the-Government-to-Control-Social-Media-2026-01-02T225109.851Z-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/An-Israeli-Billionaire-Wants-the-Government-to-Control-Social-Media-2026-01-02T225109.851Z-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/An-Israeli-Billionaire-Wants-the-Government-to-Control-Social-Media-2026-01-02T225109.851Z-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/An-Israeli-Billionaire-Wants-the-Government-to-Control-Social-Media-2026-01-02T225109.851Z-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/An-Israeli-Billionaire-Wants-the-Government-to-Control-Social-Media-2026-01-02T225109.851Z-1-12x12.png 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kramer&#8217;s central thesis is that <strong>authoritarian governments<\/strong> can move faster than democracies because they control information centrally, while open societies get bogged down in messy debates about rights and freedoms. According to his framework, this creates a competitive advantage for regimes like China and a vulnerability for countries like the United States. His exact words: <strong>&#8220;The technology is moving much faster than the political system typically can respond.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His solution isn&#8217;t education, transparency, or enforcing existing laws. It&#8217;s <strong>government control social media<\/strong>\u2014plain and simple. Kramer stated: <strong>&#8220;Unrestricted speech on social media platforms is fueling polarization and allowing hostile actors to undermine the fabric of society and politics.&#8221;<\/strong> That&#8217;s the justification. Speech causes instability, so speech must be restricted by design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the same playbook we&#8217;ve seen from powerful interests for decades. Create fear about disorder, then offer control as the cure. Except this time, the target is the <strong>First Amendment itself<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n&#8211; MEDIA MARKERS ===  \n<!-- CHART: Government Control Over Social Media: A Threat to Free Speech -->  \n| **Statistic** | **Value** |  \n|&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-|&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;|  \n| Americans valuing free speech | **70\u202f%** |  \n| Government agencies involved in surveillance | **over 1,000** |  \n| Americans believing social media should not censor political speech | **80\u202f%** |  \n\n<!-- INFOGRAPHIC: The Dangers of Government Control Over Social Media -->  \n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/example.com\/infographic.png\" alt=\"Infographic on the dangers of government control over social media\">\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-most-dangerous-line-limit-the-first-amendment-to-protect-it\">The Most Dangerous Line: &#8220;Limit the First Amendment to Protect It&#8221;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"614\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1080 \/ 614;\" width=\"1080\" controls src=\"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ssstwitter.com_1767393137820.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kramer didn&#8217;t dance around his proposal. He went straight at America&#8217;s most sacred constitutional right with this statement: <strong>&#8220;I know it&#8217;s difficult to hear, but it&#8217;s time to limit the First Amendment in order to protect it.&#8221;<\/strong> Read that again. He&#8217;s arguing that we need to shrink free speech in order to save it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s be absolutely clear: <strong>the First Amendment is the most sacred constitutional right in the United States<\/strong>. It is not negotiable. It is not a privilege to be managed by elites. You don&#8217;t protect a right by restricting it\u2014that&#8217;s not strategy, that&#8217;s surrender dressed up in technocratic language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>&#8220;I know it&#8217;s difficult to hear, but it&#8217;s time to limit the First Amendment in order to protect it.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To Kramer&#8217;s credit, he didn&#8217;t call for abolishing the Constitution outright. He argued that <strong>constitutional protections must be restricted<\/strong> to survive in the age of AI. That distinction matters for accuracy, but it doesn&#8217;t make the proposal any less dangerous. It just makes it easier to sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-government-control-social-media-actually-means-ranking-citizens-and-enforcing-narratives\">What Government Control Social Media Actually Means: Ranking Citizens and Enforcing Narratives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kramer didn&#8217;t just hint at regulation. He described a detailed blueprint for <strong>government control social media<\/strong> that would replace open participation with monitored, permissioned speech. Here are his exact words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&#8220;We need to control the platforms, all the social platforms.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&#8220;Stack, rank, the authenticity of every person that expresses themselves online.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&#8220;Take control over what they are saying.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That &#8220;rank authenticity&#8221; proposal is the giveaway. Once a government\u2014or government-blessed contractor\u2014ranks speakers, it can throttle some voices and boost others, all while claiming it&#8217;s just managing &#8220;authenticity.&#8221; That&#8217;s <strong>permissioned speech<\/strong>, not free speech. That&#8217;s <strong>government control social media<\/strong> by another name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And here&#8217;s where it gets truly authoritarian. Kramer&#8217;s stated goal is to: <strong>&#8220;Stabilize the political system&#8221;<\/strong> through <strong>&#8220;a single narrative that protects its inner stability.&#8221;<\/strong> A single narrative isn&#8217;t an American value. It&#8217;s the logic of censorship, thought policing, and top-down information management. It&#8217;s incompatible with pluralism, debate, and democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-china-comparison-americans-won-t-ignore\">The China Comparison Americans Won&#8217;t Ignore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-3-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-3.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kramer&#8217;s worldview leans heavily on the idea that the U.S. should learn from China&#8217;s speed and centralized control. He didn&#8217;t explicitly endorse every Chinese policy, but the implication is obvious: democracies must adopt more authoritarian control mechanisms to compete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s exactly why the question <strong>will the government control social media<\/strong> now feels less like a conspiracy theory and more like an approaching policy agenda. When influential global executives go on U.S. television and argue for rolling back constitutional protections, we&#8217;re past the hypothetical stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is particularly offensive to Americans who&#8217;ve watched their government spend decades supporting regimes that suppress free speech, while claiming to defend democracy. We&#8217;ve seen <a href=\"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/how-vietnam-draft-dodgers-became-war-hawks\/\">how Vietnam draft dodgers became war hawks<\/a>, and we&#8217;ve watched elites protect their own power while ordinary people lost theirs. Now a foreign billionaire is casually suggesting we adopt authoritarian information controls?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-americans-are-alarmed-foreign-influence-and-elite-power\">Why Americans Are Alarmed: Foreign Influence and Elite Power<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-4-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-4-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-4-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-4-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Image_fx-4.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many Americans\u2014across the political spectrum\u2014are asking a simple question: Why is a <strong>non-American billionaire<\/strong> comfortable telling Americans to &#8220;limit the First Amendment&#8221;? That&#8217;s not xenophobia. That&#8217;s civic self-respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This controversy taps directly into broader 2026 anxieties about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Foreign influence in U.S. political discourse<\/strong> through media access, lobbying ecosystems, and elite networks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Globalized wealth shaping domestic rules<\/strong> that ordinary people never voted for<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The recurring pattern of powerful people demanding restrictions &#8220;for safety&#8221; while keeping their own megaphones<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We grew up watching institutions break promises\u2014on housing affordability, student debt, surveillance, and corporate consolidation. Much of that damage came from Boomer-era political choices that treated deregulation and elite access like patriotism. The same generation that <a href=\"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/oppose-cutting-the-defense-budget\/\">opposes cutting the defense budget<\/a> now seems comfortable with foreign billionaires proposing limits on American constitutional rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So when another wealthy voice insists <strong>government control social media<\/strong> is the price of stability, the reaction isn&#8217;t confusion. It&#8217;s recognition. We&#8217;ve seen this playbook before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"will-the-government-control-social-media-today-was-the-sales-pitch\">Will the Government Control Social Media? Today Was the Sales Pitch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Today&#8217;s CNBC interview is a reminder that the push for <strong>government control social media<\/strong> isn&#8217;t just about content moderation debates anymore. It&#8217;s about whether the U.S. keeps the First Amendment as a rule\u2014or downgrades it into a managed privilege.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, <strong>will the government control social media?<\/strong> Kramer is betting the answer becomes yes, and soon. <strong>Will the government control social media<\/strong> because elites frame it as &#8220;necessary&#8221;? <strong>Will the government control social media<\/strong> by ranking speakers and enforcing a &#8220;single narrative&#8221;? <strong>Will the government control social media<\/strong> in the name of &#8220;stability,&#8221; even if it breaks the American constitutional model?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Americans should answer that with a hard no. Because once <strong>government control social media<\/strong> becomes normalized, it doesn&#8217;t stop at &#8220;hostile actors.&#8221; It doesn&#8217;t stop at bots. It won&#8217;t stop at &#8220;misinformation.&#8221; Every surveillance power and control mechanism expands once it&#8217;s established. That&#8217;s not speculation\u2014that&#8217;s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kramer&#8217;s remarks today weren&#8217;t a warning. They were a sales pitch. And if we&#8217;re still wondering <strong>will the government control social media<\/strong>, we just got a preview of how it&#8217;ll be marketed: as inevitable, necessary, and even patriotic. Don&#8217;t buy it. The First Amendment isn&#8217;t negotiable, and no amount of billionaire fearmongering changes that. We&#8217;ve watched elites rewrite the rules for decades\u2014this is where we draw the line.<\/p>\n\n\n&#8211; COUNTER\u2011ARGUMENT ===  \n### The Strongest Objection: \u201cGovernment Control Is Necessary for National Security\u201d  \nSome may argue that government control over social media is necessary for national security, as it would help prevent the spread of misinformation and hostile foreign influence. However, this argument is based on a flawed assumption that the government is better equipped to handle these issues than private companies. In reality, <strong>government agencies have a history of abusing their power<\/strong> and infringing on citizens\u2019 rights.  \n\nFurthermore, there are existing laws and regulations that can be used to address these issues without resorting to outright government control. For example, <strong>Section\u202f230 of the Communications Decency Act<\/strong> already provides a framework for addressing online content while protecting user rights.\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n&#8211; FAQ ===  \n### What is the main concern with government control over social media?  \nThe main concern is that it would erode the First Amendment and lead to increased surveillance and control over citizens. This could have a chilling effect on free speech and undermine the democratic process.  \n\n### How would government control over social media affect users?  \nGovernment control would likely bring **increased censorship and surveillance**, suppress dissenting voices, and shrink the diversity of viewpoints available online.  \n\n### What are some alternative solutions to government control over social media?  \nAlternative solutions include **strengthening existing laws** (e.g., Section\u202f230), demanding **greater transparency and accountability** from platforms, and promoting **industry\u2011self\u2011regulation**. See our piece on the <a href=\"\/ro\/uniparty-military-industrial-complex\/\">Uniparty Military Industrial Complex<\/a> for more.  \n\n### Can government control over social media be effective in preventing misinformation?  \nHistory shows that **government censorship rarely solves misinformation** and often backfires, creating more distrust and underground channels for falsehoods.\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources &amp; Methodology<\/h2>\n\n\n&#8211; SOURCES ===  \nThe data and arguments above draw from reputable outlets such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNBC<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cato.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cato Institute<\/a>, as well as public\u2011opinion research from the **Pew Research Center** and **Gallup**.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8211; AEO INTRO === Israeli cybersecurity billionaire Shlomo Kramer recently proposed government control over social media on national television, citing the need to counter AI\u2011powered authoritarians. However, this idea poses a significant threat to the First Amendment, with **over 70\u202f% of Americans** valuing free speech. In reality, government control over social media would likely lead [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,4,27],"tags":[9,11],"class_list":["post-1362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-america-first","category-politics","category-social-issues","tag-breaking","tag-video"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/government-control-social-media-2026-01-02T225209.088Z.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1362"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1847,"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1362\/revisions\/1847"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/boomersbrokeamerica.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}