North Pima News

The Office of Digital Government (ODG) in Gilbert is reportedly scrutinizing employees' free speech, an operation that costs taxpayers approximately $1.1 million to employ about a dozen staff members.

According to the Free Enterprise Club, the town has responded to allegations of the ODG's control over free speech by stating, "[it] will not tolerate divisive, offensive or culturally insensitive posts from employees purporting to represent the Town." The Free Enterprise Club asserts that this approach infringes on First Amendment rights as it places the determination of what qualifies as free speech in the hands of a select few, particularly those within the ODG. The club further argues that this is an attempt to suppress conservative thought and traditional American values.

The Free Enterprise Club also reports on increasing instances of challenges from left-leaning individuals and groups towards free speech. In 2021, Jen Psaki, then-White House Press Secretary, announced plans to flag certain Facebook posts spreading misinformation and advocated for universal bans across all social media platforms if a user was banned from one. A similar situation unfolded at Arizona State University when a faculty member attempted to exclude certain conservative thinkers from a Health, Wealth, and Happiness lecture. The faculty member was dismissed shortly after this incident.

A report from change.org features an article written by a Gilbert resident who criticizes the OGD for misrepresenting its intentions and abusing its authority. This citizen alleges that the office operates corruptly and intentionally obfuscates its actions with the goal of influencing public opinion towards specific ideologies. He refers to statements made by the American Civil Liberties Union which argue that what the OGD is doing is illegal as it should not possess the power to manipulate public sentiment. Yet, according to him, such manipulation is happening in Gilbert.