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February 20, 2022 - As we noted last month, the cellular carrier T-Mobile was recently accused of censoring text messages that contain links to conservative websites; specifically, TheGatewayPundit.com. After hearing about this, we actually ran our own (albeit unscientific) tests and found that some of the text messages that we sent with Gateway Pundit (GP) links never went through. These same links were able to be sent without issue, using the Telegram app on the very same phones. Telegram messages can't be screened by phone carriers, so from our perspective it does appear that T-Mobile was engaging in certain forms of censorship. Now the State of Missouri has decided to look into these allegations.
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T-Mobile's actions came to light when the owners of GP began receiving reports from their readers of text messages not going through. From the sender's perspective, everything looked normal, but the receiving party would never get the message delivered. Nor would the receiving party get any indication that a message had been sent but not delivered. Given the fact that this particular website did close to 1 billion page views last year, and that it is devoted to reporting on conservative issues (of which censorship has been a focus), it is unclear how T-Mobile ever expected to keep their actions secret. And perhaps they didn't intend to. We simply don't know.
According to reporting on GP, they sent letter to the Attorney General of Missouri, Eric Schmitt, informing him about what was going on and asking for an investigation. Now comes word that the AG has sent a letter to T-Mobile to let them know that an investigation has been launched.
Censorship in any form is dangerous in a free society. But it is particularly unacceptable that a company would censor information being transmitted from person to person, on a paid service, without notifying the parties involved that they were being censored. These companies have no authority to listen in on your voice communications, but one gets the idea that if they did, and you said something they didn't approve of, the call you were on might get cut off. Censoring text messages is pretty much the same thing. And it is not OK!
You can read the letter that Missouri's AG sent to T-Mobile here. We'll keep you posted on this as his investigation progresses.
by Jim Malmberg
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