BILL FLAIG And TOM CARTER: Conservatives Can’t Afford To Believe Big Tech’s And Big Bank’s Empty Mea Culpa

For years, conservatives warned that America’s most powerful corporations were colluding with the government to muzzle free speech, cut off financial services, and marginalize half the country. We were dismissed as paranoid, told Silicon Valley’s algorithms were neutral and Wall Street’s policies were “standard procedure.” Now, as the political winds shift, Big Tech and Big Banks are admitting, at least partially, that conservatives were right.

Conservatives should ask a simple question: are these reforms real, or just corporate window dressing designed to avoid accountability? That is the core issue, and it should frame every discussion about the supposed mea culpas we are hearing from the corporate elite.

Recent testimony to Congress confirmed what many of us experienced firsthand: under President Biden, technology giants systematically censored conservative voices, throttled their reach, and suppressed stories that challenged the administration’s narrative. At the same time, major financial institutions quietly “de-banked” conservatives, closing their accounts, freezing funds, or refusing to do business with them altogether. This was ideological discrimination dressed up as “misinformation policy” or “risk management.”

The evidence is clear. Platforms throttled reporting on the Hunter Biden laptop story, labeling it “Russian disinformation” in the critical days before the 2020 election. Conservative commentators, from sitting members of Congress to grassroots activists, were shadow-banned or de-platformed. Even satire, memes, or religious expression was flagged as dangerous “hate speech” if it came from the right.

Meanwhile, banks and payment processors targeted individuals and organizations tied to conservative causes. Pro-life groups had transactions blocked. Firearms businesses found their accounts abruptly closed. Commentators who opposed government COVID mandates saw their personal banking privileges revoked. The excuses “violations of terms of service” or “risk to our brand” were always vague, but the pattern was unmistakable.

This was not accidental. It was a coordinated environment where government pressure and corporate power worked hand in hand to stifle dissent. The Biden White House bragged about “flagging misinformation” to social media companies. Banks embraced ESG frameworks that penalized conservative industries.

Now, with a new political era dawning and Congress investigating, these same corporations are suddenly singing a different tune. Tech executives claim they are revising moderation policies. Bank CEOs assure lawmakers they have learned from their mistakes. But these reforms are reactive, not proactive. They did not come because corporate leaders rediscovered the First Amendment. They came because the political balance is shifting, the public is angry, and lawsuits are piling up. That is self-preservation, not conviction.

And the reforms are superficial. The content moderation teams enforcing the rules remain ideologically uniform. Banks continue to embrace ESG frameworks that punish industries tied to conservative values. Nothing fundamental has changed.

This is not the first time we have seen Big Tech attempt to rewrite history. Their so-called mea culpa began years ago with symbolic gestures, like donations to President Trump’s inauguration, but that was just a hedge against political backlash. In practice, they doubled down on building ideological infrastructures that reflect the values of liberal executives and activist employees. They have created entire departments and enforcement mechanisms to advance those values.

There is still no accountability. No top executive has been fired, demoted, or admitted wrongdoing. Many still justify their actions as “responsible corporate citizenship.” These leaders are young, entrenched, and willing to play the long game, confident they can outlast the current Republican surge powered by executive orders and oversight hearings. Unless leadership changes, conservatives should expect more of the same, just wrapped in better PR.

The conservative movement cannot afford to accept empty promises. The cost of complacency is too high. If we let corporations write their own redemption stories without scrutiny, the cycle will repeat itself the next time Democrats control Washington.

Congress must continue aggressive oversight. Hearings, subpoenas, and legislation should shine light on how these abuses occurred and prevent them from happening again. Transparency requirements for content moderation, clear prohibitions against political discrimination in banking, and penalties for government-corporate collusion must be part of the solution.

Conservatives should also build alternatives. Independent platforms, payment processors, and news outlets prove there is demand and opportunity for companies that respect free speech. Competition is the most effective antidote to monopoly.

And cultural pressure matters. Corporations are sensitive to brand image. When Big Tech or a bank discriminates, conservatives must be relentless in exposing it and rallying others to withdraw support. Sunlight is still the best disinfectant.

This is bigger than social media posts or checking accounts. It is about whether Americans can participate in public life without fear of corporate punishment for their beliefs. If a handful of executives and bankers can decide whose voice counts and whose livelihood is secure, democracy itself is compromised.

Big Tech and Big Banks want us to believe they have turned the page. But until we see meaningful reform, genuine accountability, and an end to double standards, conservatives must remain skeptical. The same institutions that silenced us under Biden cannot be trusted to police themselves now.

The lesson is simple: freedom is not something corporations give back once they have taken it. It is something citizens must demand, defend, and never compromise on again.

Bill Flaig and Tom Carter are the Co-Founders of The American Conservatives Values ETF (ACVF). Learn more at www.investconservative.com.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

(Featured Image Media Credit: Screen Capture/CSPAN)