The Potential Devastation of GARM’s Censorship of Conservative Media

According to Ecclesiastes 1:9, there is nothing new under the sun, which rings true when examining leftist attempts to deplatform conservative media by affecting their advertising revenue.

The intention is not to engage in debate with the right, but rather to silence them.

Ben Shapiro recently spoke before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the “Global Alliance for Responsible Media” (GARM).

GARM, established by the World Federation of Advertisers, aims to address harmful content on digital media platforms and its monetization through advertising.

Members of the WFA include major global brands like McDonald’s, Exxon, Visa, and Adidas.

The potential loss of these advertisers could have a severe impact on conservative outlets.

Far-reaching GARM

GARM came under scrutiny in the House Judiciary Committee for flagging conservative content as too risky or offensive for corporate members to advertise on.

According to the investigation, GARM not only impacted website advertising but also had implications for social media platforms.

Shapiro highlighted that GARM targeted media outlets with mainstream conservative beliefs, reaching millions of Americans with their content.

Conservatives were not the only ones affected, as Elon Musk announced plans to take legal action against those involved in the advertising boycott racket targeting platforms like X.

GARM claims to protect the public but is viewed by many as a form of political and cultural censorship.

The tactic of stifling conservative media revenue is not a new strategy and has been tracked by organizations like Legal Insurrection for over a decade.

Activists like Angelo Carusone have been successful at pressuring risk-averse advertisers to withdraw their support from conservative media figures like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

Media Matters, led by Carusone, has engaged in prolonged campaigns against conservative media outlets, using tactics like manipulating search results and pressuring advertisers.

‘Warfare’ on conservatives

Efforts like GARM’s represent a broader movement to deplatform not just conservatives but also advocates of free speech.

The goal is to control the narrative by limiting the platforms where conservative voices can be heard and ideas can be shared.

GARM’s association with global brands and its behind-the-scenes operations make it a particularly concerning threat.

This pattern of deplatforming conservative voices without engaging in substantive debate continues, with groups like GARM aiming to dictate what speech is permissible.

Ultimately, the goal is to restrict the audience’s exposure to diverse viewpoints and influence their ability to form independent opinions.

William A. Jacobson is a clinical law professor at Cornell University and the founder of the Equal Protection Project (EqualProtect.org), with Kemberlee Kaye serving as operations and editorial director.