In recent weeks, social media companies have suspended or deactivated the accounts of President Trump and many of his supporters. Major IT companies have stopped hosting “alternative” social media platforms, causing them to go offline.

Many are claiming this is a new kind of censorship.

Is “deplatforming” by private companies really censorship? What about when it is done under the pressure of government? And what about the now notorious Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields internet platforms from liability for the content their users post?