Voter Guide

In 2020, voters will choose more than just a U.S. president. We’ll choose a future for the internet, press freedom, digital privacy and so much more.

Explore Free Press Action’s analysis of how each candidate stacks up against the proposals outlined in our 2020 platform.

This voter guide analyzes all Democratic and Republican presidential candidates polling at 3% or above in national polls as of Jan. 17, 2020, according to RealClearPolitics averages.

LAST UPDATED: March 4, 2020

PASS = Pass
FAIL = Fail
NEEDS WORK = Needs Work
CANDIDATENet NeutralityAffordabilityMedia Ownership & MergersSurveillance & PrivacyReliable NetworksJournalism
Joe BidenNeeds WorkPassPassFailPassPass
Bernie SandersPassPassPassPassPassPass
Donald J. TrumpFailFailFailFailFailFail
Elizabeth WarrenPassPassPassPassPassPass
Bill WeldNeeds WorkNeeds WorkFailFailNeeds WorkPass
PASS = Pass
FAIL = Fail
NEEDS WORK = Needs Work

Joe Biden

Net Neutrality — Needs Work
While Biden served as vice president under the Obama administration — whose FCC passed the strong 2015 Net Neutrality rules — he has thus far made no public statements regarding Net Neutrality or Title II classification of broadband.

Affordability — Pass
As a presidential candidate, Biden proposes bridging the digital divide by encouraging competition between broadband providers, with the goal of increasing speeds and decreasing prices. He also supports reforming the FCC’s Lifeline program to expand the availability of broadband subsidies for low-income communities, and promises to work with Congress to pass the Digital Equity Act.1

While Free Press Action would welcome greater specifics regarding Biden’s plans to lower prices and shore up Lifeline, this platform reflects an understanding that the digital divide is a matter of affordability, not just infrastructure.

Biden’s criminal-justice platform also expresses support for legislation repairing the FCC’s authority to ensure that people who are incarcerated are not charged extortionate rates for phone calls from prison.2

Media Ownership & Mergers — Pass
As a senator, Biden voted in opposition to the FCC’s efforts to scrap critical broadcast media-ownership limitations in 2003 and 2008.3 He also co-sponsored legislation in 2007 to establish an independent panel to study the impact of any such rule changes on broadcast ownership by women and people of color. The bill would have also required the FCC to take the panel’s recommendations into account before deregulating.4

Biden has been silent on competition-killing telecom mergers like the T-Mobile/Sprint deal. He’s said there’s a “very strong case” for breaking up big tech companies, but that it would be “premature” to decide to do so at this juncture.5

Surveillance & Privacy — Fail
As a senator, Biden acted to increase mass surveillance by the government and by law enforcement agencies, voting in support of the 2001 USA Patriot Act and other legislation that would give law enforcement easier access to devices.5 While he later walked back his Patriot Act support, he then served as vice president during the Obama administration, which embraced many of the same surveillance tools Biden had eventually criticized.

Biden has taken no public positions on law enforcement’s social-media monitoring or on data-sharing agreements some tech companies hold with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. He’s also taken no positions regarding comprehensive privacy legislation or civil-rights protections for digital data.

Reliable Networks — Pass
Biden has condemned President Trump’s failure to respond adequately to the post-hurricane crisis in Puerto Rico. While he hasn’t called for an investigation into the administration’s response to this specific communications crisis or proposed policies to protect against corporations exploiting these kinds of disasters for profit, he has promised to invest in recovery for Puerto Rico and in the resiliency of local communities.7

Journalism — Pass
Biden has repudiated Trump’s assertion that the press is the “enemy of the people,” arguing instead that “a vigorous press is essential to keep government honest and the public informed.”8 He has not made any specific statements regarding support for public media or for funding noncommercial journalism.

  1. “The Biden Plan to Invest in Middle Class Competitiveness,” JoeBiden.com: https://joebiden.com/infrastructure/
  2. “Justice,” JoeBiden.com: https://joebiden.com/justice/
  3. “Joe Biden on Technology,” On the Issues, updated Dec. 29, 2019: https://www.ontheissues.org/2020/Joe_Biden_Technology.htm
  4. “S. 2332: Media Ownership Act of 2007,” 110th Congress: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/2332
  5. “It’s Not Just Warren. The Next Democratic President is Coming for Your Monopoly,” Bloomberg News, July 3, 2019: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-03/the-next-democratic-president-is-coming-for-your-monopoly
  6. “Joe Biden’s Record on Privacy May Give Democrats Pause,” Inside Sources, April 25, 2019: https://www.insidesources.com/joe-bidens-record-on-privacy-may-give-democrats-pause/
  7. “Joe Biden: Puerto Rico Deserves More Respect Than Donald Trump Has Given,” Orlando Sentinel, Dec. 5, 2019: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-joe-biden-rebuild-puerto-rico-20191205-7qxc6pwz6nbzja2hngsinepire-story.html
  8. “Press Freedoms: Criminalizing Journalistic Activity,” The New York Times, 2019: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/politics/press-freedoms-executive-power.html

Bernie Sanders

Net Neutrality — Pass
As a senator, Sanders voted in support of the Congressional Review Act to reinstate the Obama FCC’s strong Net Neutrality rules under Title II authority.1

As a presidential candidate, Sanders has promised to “[c]lassify broadband providers as common carriers under Title II and reinstate net neutrality regulations.”2 A spokesperson for the campaign told the Daily Dot that Sanders “believes net neutrality is fundamental to communication, commerce and competition.”3

Affordability — Pass
As a senator, Sanders signed a 2015 letter calling on the FCC to collect data regarding actual broadband prices, a crucial first step to promoting competition and ensuring fair rates.4 Sanders’ presidential-campaign platform also advocates for this.5

In 2018, Sanders signed a letter opposing the Trump FCC’s proposal to drastically cut the Lifeline program and deprive 8 million eligible people from receiving essential support to cross the digital divide.6

As a presidential candidate, Sanders has promised to use Title II authority to restore Net Neutrality and also “to promote competition, choice, and affordability for broadband service”. He proposes ensuring that all broadband providers offer quality speeds at an affordable price.7

Sanders proposes that phone-and-video calls to and from people in prison be free of charge. He also proposes unlimited in-person visitations.8

Media Ownership & Mergers — Pass
As a senator, Sanders co-sponsored legislation in 2008 to overturn the FCC’s efforts to allow even more harmful broadcast-media consolidation.9 He also sent a letter to the FCC in 2012 requesting that the agency abandon its attempts to deregulate broadcast media without first studying the impacts on already abysmal levels of ownership by women and people of color.10 Sanders has promised that as president, he would reverse the Trump administration’s pro-consolidation moves and strengthen media-ownership and diversity rules.11

Sanders has also opposed major telecommunications mergers such as T-Mobile/Sprint12 and AT&T/Time Warner,13 and his presidential-campaign platform promises to investigate and unwind anti-competitive mergers.13 He has also expressed support for strengthening antitrust efforts targeting big tech companies such as Facebook and Google.15

Surveillance & Privacy — Pass
As a senator, Sanders opposed warrantless wiretapping, voting against the 2001 USA Patriot Act and proposing reform legislation.16 As a presidential candidate, he has also put forth a plan to end the surveillance of migrants and migrant activists, and to end the use of facial-recognition technology for immigration and border enforcement.17

While he has not taken a position regarding civil rights-style privacy protections for online data, Sanders did vote against the Senate’s repeal of the Obama FCC’s broadband-privacy rules, insisting that “[o]ur information belongs to us, not corporations.”18

Reliable Networks — Pass
As a senator, Sanders called for an investigation into the government’s response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria.19 He also introduced a bill to fund equitable recovery in Puerto Rico.20

As a presidential candidate, Sanders has promised to “[p]erform a full review of the post-disaster response to the communications crisis in Puerto Rico and ensure broadband and telecommunications services are swiftly restored.”21 His proposal includes plans to invest in equitable and resilient communications networks. He’s also warned against allowing corporations to exploit the crisis in Puerto Rico to pursue disaster-capitalism profits.22

Journalism – Pass
As a senator, Sanders opposed efforts to defund public media, noting that public outlets like NPR and PBS provide important alternatives to corporate-owned news.23

As a presidential candidate, Sanders articulated his belief that the “First Amendment explicitly protects the free press because the founders understood how important journalism is to a democracy.” He has proposed funding noncommercial-journalism ventures with funds raised from taxing targeted advertisements.24

  1. “Senate Votes to Reinstate Net Neutrality — But It Still Has a Long Way to Go,” The Verge, May 16, 2018: https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/16/17357592/net-neutrality-senate-vote-cra-reinstate-fcc-rules
  2. “High-Speed Internet for All,” BernieSanders.com: https://berniesanders.com/issues/high-speed-internet-all/
  3. “Exclusive: Bernie Sanders Pledges to Nominate FCC Commissioners Who Will Reinstate Net Neutrality,” Daily Dot, July 30, 2019: https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/net-neutrality-bernie-sanders-2020/
  4. “Letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler,” Offices of Sens. Bernie Sanders, Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, July 9, 2015: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/071015fccletter/?inline=file
  5. “High-Speed Internet for All,” BernieSanders.com: https://berniesanders.com/issues/high-speed-internet-all/
  6. “Harris, Senators Push Back on FCC Proposal to Cut Phone and Broadband Service from Struggling Americans,” Press Release from Office of Sen. Kamala Harris, March 29, 2018: https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-senators-push-back-on-fcc-proposal-to-cut-phone-and-broadband-service-from-struggling-americans
  7. “High-Speed Internet for All,” BernieSanders.com: https://berniesanders.com/issues/high-speed-internet-all/
  8. “Criminal Justice Reform,” BernieSanders.com: https://berniesanders.com/issues/criminal-justice-reform/
  9. “Bernie Sanders on Technology,” On the Issues, updated Dec. 31, 2019: https://www.ontheissues.org/Economic/Bernie_Sanders_Technology.htm
  10. “Letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski,” Offices of Sens. Bernie Sanders, Patrick Leahy, Tom Harkin, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Ron Wyden, Jon Tester, Al Franken, and Jeff Merkley, Nov. 30, 2012: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/FCC%20Media%20Ownership%20Letter%2011%2030%202012.pdf
  11. “Op-Ed: Bernie Sanders on His Plan for Journalism,” Columbia Journalism Review, Aug. 26, 2019: https://www.cjr.org/opinion/bernie-sanders-media-silicon-valley.php
  12. “Letter to Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim,” Offices of Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, Tom Udall, Sherrod Brown, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Edward Markey, Feb. 12, 2019: https://www.scribd.com/document/419629512/T-mobile-Sprint-Letter-to-DOJ
  13. “Letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions,” Offices of Sens. Al Franken, Edward Markey, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders, Maria Cantwell, Sherrod Brown, Tammy Baldwin, and Cory Booker, June 21, 2017: http://web.archive.org/web/20170707210143/https://www.franken.senate.gov/files/letter/170621_ATTMergerLetter.pdf
  14. “High-Speed Internet for All,” BernieSanders.com: https://berniesanders.com/issues/high-speed-internet-all/
  15. “U.S. Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders Takes Aim at Corporate Media, Tech Giants,” Reuters, Aug. 27, 2019: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-sanders/u-s-presidential-candidate-bernie-sanders-takes-aim-at-corporate-media-tech-giants-idUSKCN1VH25E
  16. “Civil Liberties,” Bernie Sanders on Senate.gov: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/legislation/issue/civil-liberties
  17. “Welcoming and Safe America for All,” BernieSanders.com: https://berniesanders.com/issues/welcoming-and-safe-america-all/
  18. “Where Do 2020 Democratic Candidates Stand on Internet Privacy?” Daily Dot, April 7, 2019: https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/2020-democratic-candidates-internet-privacy/
  19. “Letter to Sen. Lamar Alexander,” Offices of Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bill Cassidy, Bernie Sanders, Robert P. Casey Jr., Michael F. Bennet, Sheldon Whitehouse, Tammy Baldwin, Christopher Murphy and Tim Kaine, Dec. 21, 2017: https://www.murphy.senate.gov/download/puerto-rico-usvi-letter
  20. “Sanders, Colleagues Unveil Legislation to Rebuild Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands,” Office of Sen. Bernie Sanders, Nov. 28, 2017: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-colleagues-unveil-legislation-to-rebuild-puerto-rico-and-virgin-islands
  21. “High-Speed Internet for All,” BernieSanders.com: https://berniesanders.com/issues/high-speed-internet-all/
  22. “Bernie Sanders on Puerto Rico Neglect: ‘Do You Think This Would Be Happening in Westchester County?’" The Intercept, March 2, 2018: https://theintercept.com/2018/03/02/puerto-rico-hurricane-relief-bernie-sanders/
  23. “Bernie Sanders on Why He Supports Funding for NPR, PBS,” CBS News, March 9, 2011: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bernie-sanders-on-why-he-supports-funding-for-npr-pbs/
  24. “Op-Ed: Bernie Sanders on His Plan for Journalism,” Columbia Journalism Review, Aug. 26, 2019: https://www.cjr.org/opinion/bernie-sanders-media-silicon-valley.php

Donald J. Trump

Net Neutrality — Fail
Soon after taking office, Trump pledged to reverse the Obama FCC’s strong Net Neutrality rules under Title II authority.1 He then appointed Chairman Ajit Pai, who in 2017 spearheaded the FCC’s repeal of the Net Neutrality rules and abandoned the proper regulatory classification of broadband.2

Affordability — Fail
While Trump has personally made zero public statements regarding broadband affordability or extortionate prison-phone rates, his FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, has worked to gut the Lifeline program and abandon Title II authority to promote competition.

Pai also chose not to defend the Obama FCC’s rules limiting the cost of phone calls for people who are incarcerated, allowing prisons to return to charging exploitative rates.3

Media Ownership & Mergers — Fail
Trump’s FCC chairman has repeatedly slashed anti-consolidation protections, and done so in flagrant violation of Third Circuit court decisions requiring the FCC to study the impacts of such deregulation on media ownership by women and people of color. Trump’s only criticism of Chairman Pai’s efforts arose when the FCC moved to block the dangerous Sinclair/Tribune merger, a decision Trump called “unfair.”4

Trump has been a mixed bag on telecommunications mergers and tech companies. His administration supported the harmful T-Mobile/Sprint merger but opposed the AT&T/Time Warner deal (albeit unsuccessfully). Trump also supports breaking up big tech, but only because he feels the companies aren’t fair to him personally.5

Surveillance & Privacy — Fail
Trump’s administration is committed to using the full powers of the surveillance state, including the tools the USA Patriot Act created.6 Under his administration, the Department of Homeland Security has expanded social-media monitoring at the border, disproportionately targeting Muslims and other ethnic and religious minorities.7 Trump-appointed officials have also defended the use of facial-recognition technologies in airports and border areas, and have pushed for major expansions of data-sharing agreements with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and law enforcement.8

Trump also signed the legislation that repealed the Obama FCC’s broadband-privacy rules.

Reliable Networks — Fail
Trump has resisted sending emergency funding to Puerto Rico in the wake of the hurricanes, all while insisting his administration had done an “unappreciated great job.”9 He has shown zero concern for equitable rebuilding of communications networks or any other infrastructure, and made no efforts to prevent corporations from taking advantage of the crisis. His FCC has also stonewalled efforts to investigate the roots of the communications crisis.

Journalism — Fail
Trump infamously referred to the press as the “enemy of the people,” and has applauded the way that foreign governments have cracked down on the free press and other First Amendment freedoms.

  1. “Net Neutrality Is Trump’s Next Target, Administration Says,” The New York Times, March 30, 2017: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/technology/net-neutrality.html
  2. “Read FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s Statement on Killing Net Neutrality,” The Verge, Dec. 14, 2017: https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/14/16777626/ajit-pai-net-neutrality-speech
  3. “FCC Made a Case for Limiting Cost of Prison Phone Calls. Not Anymore,” The Washington Post, Feb. 5, 2017: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/fcc-made-a-case-for-limiting-cost-of-prison-phone-calls-not-anymore/2017/02/04/9306fbf8-e97c-11e6-b82f-687d6e6a3e7c_story.html
  4. “Trump Calls FCC Decision on Sinclair-Tribune Merger ‘Unfair,’” Reuters, July 24, 2018: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-sinclair-ma-trump/trump-calls-fcc-decision-on-sinclair-tribune-merger-unfair-idUSKBN1KF02J
  5. “Trump’s Interested in Breaking Up Big Tech for All the Wrong Reasons,” Vox, June 10, 2019: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/6/10/18659748/trump-cnbc-interview-big-tech
  6. “The Metadata Trap,” The Intercept, April 8, 2019: https://theintercept.com/2019/08/04/whistleblowers-surveillance-fbi-trump/
  7. “Government: Social Media Surveillance,” Brennan Center for Justice: https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/protect-liberty-security/social-media/government-social-media-surveillance
  8. “Trump Officials Defend Use of Facial Recognition Amid Backlash,” The Hill, July 10, 2019: https://thehill.com/policy/technology/452529-trump-officials-defend-use-of-facial-recognition-amid-backlash
  9. “Trump Vendetta Against Puerto Rico Still Going Strong,” Vanity Fair, Dec. 18, 2019: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/12/trump-vendetta-against-puerto-rico-still-going-strong-cut-medicaid-funding

Elizabeth Warren

Net Neutrality — Pass
As a senator, Warren voted in support of the Congressional Review Act to reinstate the Obama FCC’s strong Net Neutrality rules under Title II authority.1

As a presidential candidate, Warren promises to appoint FCC commissioners who will “restore net neutrality, regulating internet service providers as ‘common carriers’ and maintaining open access to the Internet.”2

Affordability — Pass
As a senator, Warren signed a 2015 letter calling on the FCC to collect data regarding actual broadband prices, a crucial first step to promoting competition and ensuring fair rates.3 Warren’s presidential-campaign platform also advocates for this.4

In 2018, Warren signed a letter opposing the Trump FCC’s proposal to drastically cut the Lifeline program and deprive 8 million eligible people from receiving essential support to cross the digital divide.5

As a presidential candidate, Warren proposes prohibiting broadband providers’ efforts to “unfairly squeeze out competition, hold governments hostage, and drive up prices”. She supports the Digital Equity Act and proposes making broadband-infrastructure grants contingent on providers offering at least one discount plan for low-income people.6

Warren has also co-sponsored legislation that would repair the FCC’s authority to ensure that people who are incarcerated are not charged extortionate rates for phone calls from prison.7 She’s also co-sponsored a bill requiring more expansive inmate-visitation policies.8

Media Ownership & Mergers — Pass
Warren has raised concerns about broadcast consolidation,9 specifically calling out the Sinclair Broadcasting Group and other conglomerates that have exploited the Trump FCC’s weakened media-ownership rules to buy up near-total control of local media markets.10

Warren has also opposed major telecommunications mergers such as T-Mobile/Sprint11 and AT&T/Time Warner.12 She also released a proposal detailing her plans to use strengthened antitrust laws to break up giant tech companies such as Amazon, Facebook and Google.13

Surveillance & Privacy — Pass
Warren opposes bulk collection of phone records under the USA Patriot Act.14 She also demanded an investigation into the Department of Homeland Security and law enforcement’s use of social media to monitor protests, calling it a “serious abuse of power.”15 She proposes establishing a digital-privacy task force to establish guardrails for surveillance technology, including facial-recognition tools, and advocates for separating law enforcement from immigration enforcement.16

While she has not taken a position regarding civil rights-style privacy protections for online data, Warren supported the Obama FCC’s broadband-privacy rules and promises to hold companies accountable for data breaches.17

Reliable Networks — Pass
As a senator, Warren called for an investigation into the government’s response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria.18 She also co-sponsored a bill to fund equitable recovery in Puerto Rico.19

As a presidential candidate, Warren also committed to “put strong protections in place to ensure that federal tax dollars go toward community recovery, not to line the pockets of contractors” when disasters strike.20

Journalism — Pass
Warren has repudiated Trump’s assertion that the press is the “enemy of the people,” arguing instead that “a free press is a foundational part of a democracy.”21 She has not made any specific statements regarding support for public media, or for funding noncommercial journalism.

  1. “Senate Votes to Reinstate Net Neutrality — But It Has a Long Way to Go,” The Verge, May 16, 2018: https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/16/17357592/net-neutrality-senate-vote-cra-reinstate-fcc-rules
  2. “Elizabeth Warren: My Plan to Invest in Rural America,” Medium, Aug. 7, 2019: https://medium.com/@teamwarren/my-plan-to-invest-in-rural-america-94e3a80d88aa
  3. “Letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler,” Offices of Sens. Bernie Sanders, Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, and Edward J. Markey, July 9, 2015: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/071015fccletter/?inline=file
  4. “Investing in Rural America,” ElizabethWarren.com: https://elizabethwarren.com/plans/invest-rural
  5. “Harris, Senators Push Back on FCC Proposal to Cut Phone and Broadband Service from Struggling Americans,” Office of Sen. Kamala Harris, March 9, 2018: https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-senators-push-back-on-fcc-proposal-to-cut-phone-and-broadband-service-from-struggling-americans
  6. “Investing in Rural America,” ElizabethWarren.com: https://elizabethwarren.com/plans/invest-rural
  7. “S.1764: Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2019,” June 10, 2019: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1764/cosponsors?r=69&s=1&searchResultViewType=expanded&KWICView=false
  8. “S.1524: Dignity Act,” July 11, 2017: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1524/cosponsors?searchResultViewType=expanded&KWICView=false
  9. “Elizabeth Warren Raises ‘Serious Concerns’ Over CBS-Viacom Merger,” Variety, Aug. 15, 2019: https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/elizabeth-warren-raises-serious-concerns-over-cbs-viacom-merger-1203303826/
  10. “A Free Press,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren/videos/520432358558280/
  11. “Letter to Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim,” Offices of Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, Tom Udall, Sherrod Brown, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, Bernard Sanders, Cory A. Booker and Edward J. Markey, Feb, 12, 2019: https://www.scribd.com/document/419629512/T-mobile-Sprint-Letter-to-DOJ
  12. “Letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions,” Offices of Sens. Al Franken, Edward J. Markey, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Jeffrey A. Merkley, Bernard Sanders, Maria Cantwell, Sherrod Brown, Tammy Baldwin, and Cory A. Booker, June 21, 2017: http://web.archive.org/web/20170707210143/https://www.franken.senate.gov/files/letter/170621_ATTMergerLetter.pdf
  13. “How We Can Break Up Big Tech,” ElizabethWarren.com: https://elizabethwarren.com/plans/break-up-big-tech
  14. “Elizabeth Warren on Technology,” On the Issues, Feb. 10, 2017: https://www.ontheissues.org/Economic/Elizabeth_Warren_Technology.htm
  15. “Senator Warren Calls for IG Investigation into Reports DHS Used Intelligence Firm’s Surveillance of Trump Administration Family Separation Policy Protests,” Office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, April 30, 2019: https://www.warren.senate.gov/oversight/letters/senator-warren-calls-for-ig-investigation-into-reports-dhs-used-intelligence-firms-surveillance-of-trump-administration-family-separation-policy-protests
  16. “Comprehensive Criminal Justice Reform,” ElizabethWarren.com: https://elizabethwarren.com/plans/criminal-justice-reform
  17. “Where Do 2020 Democratic Candidates Stand on Internet Privacy?” The Daily Dot, April 7, 2019: https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/2020-democratic-candidates-internet-privacy/
  18. “Letter to Sen. Lamar Alexander,” Offices of Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bill Cassidy, Bernie Sanders, Robert P. Casey Jr., Michael F. Bennet, Sheldon Whitehouse, Tammy Baldwin, Christopher Murphy and Tim Kaine, Dec. 21, 2017: https://www.murphy.senate.gov/download/puerto-rico-usvi-letter
  19. "Sanders, Colleagues Unveil Legislation to Rebuild Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands,” Office of Sen. Bernie Sanders, Nov. 28, 2017: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-colleagues-unveil-legislation-to-rebuild-puerto-rico-and-virgin-islands
  20. “Fighting for Justice as We Combat the Climate Crisis,” ElizabethWarren.com: https://elizabethwarren.com/plans/environmental-justice
  21. “A Free Press,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren/videos/520432358558280/

Bill Weld

Net Neutrality — Needs Work
Weld has made no public statements regarding Net Neutrality or Title II.

Affordability — Needs Work
Weld has made no public statements regarding broadband affordability or exploitative charges for phone calls for people who are incarcerated.

Media Ownership & Mergers — Fail
Weld has made no public statements regarding protecting broadcast media-ownership limits, promoting media-ownership diversity, or blocking telecommunications mergers like T-Mobile/Sprint.

Weld opposes efforts to break up big tech companies, saying he’d “honestly rather have the market make those decisions.”1

Surveillance & Privacy — Fail
Weld signed a letter supporting the passage of the USA Patriot Act.2 In his opposition to Trump’s proposed border wall, Weld has said that the Department of Homeland Security would prefer “more intelligence, personnel, and training” — which would necessarily entail either more surveillance or more problematic data-sharing agreements.3

Weld has made no public statements regarding comprehensive consumer-privacy legislation, or on legislation that would protect against online civil-rights abuses.

Reliable Networks — Needs Work
Weld has made no public statements regarding an investigation into the federal government’s post-hurricane response in Puerto Rico, rebuilding equitable and resilient communications infrastructure, or protecting communities from corporate exploitation in the wake of disasters.

Journalism — Pass
Weld has repudiated Trump’s assertion that the free press is the “enemy of the people,” likening such language to the rhetoric of fascist dictators.4 He has not made any specific statements regarding support for public media, or for funding noncommercial journalism.

  1. “Bill Weld: Big Government Should Not Break Up the Tech Giants,” Ora, Aug. 23, 2019: http://www.ora.tv/politicking/2019/8/23/bill-weld-us-government-should-not-breakup-the-tech-giants
  2. “Why the Libertarian Ticket Is an Invaluable Experiment for the GOP,” The Week, June 2, 2016: https://theweek.com/articles/627384/why-libertarian-ticket-invaluable-experiment-gop
  3. “Homeland Security and Counter-Intelligence,” Weld 2020: https://weld2020.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/weld2020_policypaper_homelandsecuritycounterintelligence.pdf
  4. “GOP Primary Challenger Bill Weld: Trump Saying the Press Is the Enemy of the People Is Reminiscent of Dictators,” Newsweek, Sept. 25, 2019: https://www.newsweek.com/weld-trump-election-dictators-1461197