Censorship was already present in social media and in the last few days, it has become a lot more powerful.
Those people saluting the band of Trump's Facebook and Twitter account will not be so happy when they are the ones silenced. I fully agree with Snowden on this.
But the big question is “Who’s going to decide who are the bad actors?”.
I don’t think the answer to that should be “a few people at large companies that are, at best, kept at bay by rich people buying or selling the company’s shares”.
Apple (and Twitter, in closing Trump’s account) act as judge, jury and executioner, and don’t allow appeals.
Lol the president can show up on any television or radio show in the world at any time on any day he wants. We’ve watched him call in to live news shows many times. He’s not censored he’s being a baby.
In 2 weeks, Trump will not be Mr President anymore but just a citizen and he will not have TV or radio shows to appear on. But forget about Trump: what if Facebook or Twitter decide tomorrow they are going to censor YOUR account? What recourse will you have? Nothing. Amidala was right: "this is how democracy dies: with thunderous applause".
Sorry bro but you’re wrong. Guess what Trump was only president for four years. For decades before that he can show up anywhere in the world that he wants and the press has a field day. That’s not going to change because Twitter cut him off.
If they censored me...I wouldn’t care because it’s a free company? Like an ISP blocking content they disagree with is wrong because I’m not paying them to censor content for me. But Facebook? I’m not paying them at all so I don’t care what they do?
It’s funny to me all these free speech conversations that happen when a gigantic piece of shit like trump gets told to stfu. “Oh em gee what if jack told me to stop posting my furry porn”.
Dude, it’s not the same thing. The furries aren’t quite literally and openly calling for people to execute sitting members of government. No one wants to ban the furries. Or the save the whales guys. Or the church of satan. No one cares what any of those guys do or say. It’s just the nazis. We have decided as a society that nazis shouldn’t be allowed to speak. No, we’re not going to listen to them because they have nothing to add. Their opinions do not matter. Pretending like they do and wrapping it up in a free speech argument is how we got trump in the first place.
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[ 2.1 ms ] story [ 33.7 ms ] threadThose people saluting the band of Trump's Facebook and Twitter account will not be so happy when they are the ones silenced. I fully agree with Snowden on this.
That time is now over.
I don’t think the answer to that should be “a few people at large companies that are, at best, kept at bay by rich people buying or selling the company’s shares”.
Apple (and Twitter, in closing Trump’s account) act as judge, jury and executioner, and don’t allow appeals.
In all seriousness, there’s a balance that can be had. We ought not surrender any freedoms enthusiastically. Once gone, they will be gone forever.
Private companies, users agree to a legal TOS
Employees of said companies have free association rights
Free speech in the Constitution is rather literal
Speak freely
No one has to provide a podium or world wide website for you
It could be argued you tacitly support censorship by supporting HN which does not allow any and all content
If they censored me...I wouldn’t care because it’s a free company? Like an ISP blocking content they disagree with is wrong because I’m not paying them to censor content for me. But Facebook? I’m not paying them at all so I don’t care what they do?
When something's free, the product is you.
Dude, it’s not the same thing. The furries aren’t quite literally and openly calling for people to execute sitting members of government. No one wants to ban the furries. Or the save the whales guys. Or the church of satan. No one cares what any of those guys do or say. It’s just the nazis. We have decided as a society that nazis shouldn’t be allowed to speak. No, we’re not going to listen to them because they have nothing to add. Their opinions do not matter. Pretending like they do and wrapping it up in a free speech argument is how we got trump in the first place.