Twitter in January permanently shut down Trump’s personal account as well as other accounts he’s used.

The move came afterFacebook and Instagram suspended Trump indefinitelyfrom their platforms.

Twitch and Snapchat also disabled Trump’s accounts.

Meanwhile,Apple and Google banned Parlerfrom their app stores.

And Amazon cut off its web hosting services to Parler.

Conservatives say these actions amount to censorship and violate their First Amendment rights to free speech.

That isn’t the case.

This FAQ breaks down the issue.

Free speech protection under theFirst Amendment to the US Constitutionapplies only to the government censoring speech.

It doesn’t mean private companies can’t decide what types of speech they allow on their platforms.

Companies can and do have their own standards and policies that users must follow.

And they can remove users who violate those standards.

“There is no constitutional right to tweet or post on Facebook.”

They offer terms of service, which consumers agree to abide by.

It’s this violation of terms of service that Twitter, Facebook and other platforms cited for blocking Trump.

Calvert points out that the First Amendment gives private companies the right to moderate their platforms.

What was Twitter’s reasoning for banning Trump?

They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!"

Snapchat also issued an indefinite ban.

All of them say Trump violated their terms of service.

Biden won the presidential race with81.28 million votes and 306 electoral votes.

What did Trump have to say about Facebook’s Oversight Board upholding Facebook’s suspension?

Unsurprisingly, the former president wasn’t happy with Facebook, as well as other social media companies.

What about Simon & Schuster canceling the publication of Sen. Josh Hawley’s forthcoming book?

Was that a First Amendment violation?

Again, the First Amendment applies only to censorship by the US government.

Simon & Schuster, owned by ViacomCBS, is a private company.

It can decide what to publish and what not to publish.

No one has a constitutional right to have his or her book published.

But it wouldn’t be based on any First Amendment claims.

What about Apple and Google removing the social media platform Parler from their app stores?

Or Amazon ending hosting services for Parler?

The First Amendment and the free speech guarantee is limited to preventing the government from censoring speech.

But that’s not to say there aren’t other concerns.

“That’s a worthy debate to be having.

But it’s not a First Amendment issue.”