The FTC announcement said that "censorship by technology platforms is not just un-American, it is potentially illegal." Tech platforms' actions "may harm consumers, affect competition, may have resulted from a lack of competition, or may have been the product of anti-competitive conduct," the FTC said.

The Federal Trade Commission announced on Thursday that it will launch a public inquiry into "censorship by tech platforms," soliciting comments from

The FTC issued a request for information from consumers, including those who have been banned from platforms.