In a chapter of “Project 2025,” a blueprint for overhauling the federal government produced by The Heritage Foundation, Carr argued that Section 230 of the Communications Act should be limited to crack down on what conservatives say is widespread viewpoint discrimination by tech platforms.

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In a statement congratulating Trump on his election victory earlier this month, Carr said the agency would have an important role to play “reining in Big Tech” and “ensuring that broadcasters operate in the public interest”.

Before the election, Carr made headlines when he accused NBC of violating “equal time” rules by inviting Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris onto Saturday Night Live.

In an interview with Fox News, he called on his fellow FCC commissioners to investigate NBC and said that “every single remedy”, including licence revocations, should be on the table for networks that commit “egregious” violations of broadcasting standards.

“Whether it’s to benefit Republican or Democrat, that doesn’t matter to me. We have rules on the books, we have to uphold them,” he said.

Liberals have expressed alarm at Carr’s views, expressing concern that he intends to politicise the FCC and arguing that Section 230, which shields internet providers from liability over the content they carry, is essential to a free and open internet.

“When people tell you what they plan to do, you should believe them. Brendan Carr has clearly stated that he plans to attack Section 230 and force online platforms to carry sludge,” Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the centre-left trade group Chamber of Progress Founder, said in a statement.

“That’s why Democrats need to defend Section 230, which protects content moderation and keeps the Internet from becoming a cesspool.”

Max Burns, a Democratic strategist, said that Carr was aligned with Trump’s plans to use the FCC as a “weapon against news networks the president doesn’t like”.