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Trump escalates war on social media companies

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By ZEKE MILLER

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U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his war on social media companies Thursday

Once again Trump interferes with markets. Once again Trump attacks the free, for-profit press, guaranteed by the US Constitution. Trump continues his efforts to undermine the principles the republic was built on while trying to distract from the 100,000+ virus related deaths and a severely damaged economy.

14 ( +24 / -10 )

So we have not just a government agency, but the top government agency in the land, directing their power against a private company, over comments posted on their private platform.

This is as egregious an offense to freedom of speech as America has ever seen. It is literally the quintessential definition of government overreach, and suppression of private citizens' right to speak out against the government.

We have the right going on about how the second amendment was bequeathed by god himself (god-given right), and how the constitution is more important than any document ever.

Yet they're entirely cool with pissing on it, in support of Don the Con.

So much for freedom of speech in America. It was a nice idea while it lasted.

17 ( +25 / -8 )

Once again Trump interferes with markets. Once again Trump attacks the free, for-profit press, guaranteed by the US Constitution.

Yes and sadly the liberals in the media have taken advantage of the Constitution used or rather misused it to silence conservatives whenever they felt was necessary.

Trump continues his efforts to undermine the principles the republic

And the social media world continues to use all efforts to undermine any conservatives opposing view they don’t like.

was built on while trying to distract from the 100,000+ virus related deaths and a severely damaged economy.

Oh, boy....here we go....

-32 ( +8 / -40 )

To cover up his plethora of failures, Trump once again picks a fight with a conservative strawman. But it doesn't erase his failures of leadership, failures of maturity, or just failures of manhood and humanity.

15 ( +20 / -5 )

I consider Twitter and other social medias a place for gossips. So, I do not take it seriously. It was my surprise that President of the United States used it very often to state his opinions and express his "feelings." From its nature of social media, it is not official and ideas are written without deliberation.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

A shocking abuse of power by trump.

Social media was fine while it was aligned with him, but a suggestion that his lies might need scrutiny... and now it's a clampdown.

What a hypocrite.

17 ( +23 / -6 )

 violated conservative principles

Trump and his supporters long ago left behind traditional conservative principles, instead have opted for those most closely espoused by the alt right. (Google/Yandex alt right not conservative). The political/economic policies the alt right favor are similar to those found in states with strong authoritarian leaders who have control of markets and media. Xi leads China's system of authoritarian capitalism. Putin leads Russia's national socialism. (Putin, of course, only 'partially' controls his nation's media.) Trump and his supporters have claimed all along they want to undermine US systems, and to date appear to be successful

12 ( +15 / -3 )

Yes and sadly the liberals in the media have taken advantage of the Constitution used or rather misused it to silence conservatives whenever they felt was necessary.

This is false.

The numerous non-truths that are spread by the far right have to be challenged.

And even then, the right get to have their say.

It's those who challenge far right misinformation merchants who are silenced.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

A shocking abuse of power by trump.

An even more shocking abuse of how liberals went buck wild with silencing conservatives.

Social media was fine

No, it wasn’t fine for conservatives, but now it will be.

What a hypocrite.

This is the view of liberal one-sided thinking and was the problem and it’s enough.

-24 ( +3 / -27 )

An even more shocking abuse of how liberals went buck wild with silencing conservatives.

And the funny thing is... Trump wasn't 'silenced' in any way. His BS tweet was allowed to go through. So what silencing was done? What tweets of his, despite being blatantly against the Twitter terms of service, have been deleted?

Oh, wait... none.

Those darn inconvenient facts again. Why, we can't stand for this! I mean, facts must be liberal, the truth must be liberal! Why else would it be so against so many things Trump says?

16 ( +18 / -2 )

Well, the good news is, on this day when the 100,000 dead Americans line has been crossed, at least Trump is on top of what's important to Americans: Making sure Trump isn't fact-checked.

The 100,000 dead are screaming in anger that Twitter dared fact check Dear Leader.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

And an American president violates the 1st Amendment.

This is beyond the pale.

15 ( +18 / -3 )

Over this spat, Donald Trump could effectively end free speech on the internet. He's certainly trying.

YouTube has been running warnings over certain videos for ages (e.g. flat earth videos). I don't see why Trump should expect different treatment given the levels of untruths he tells.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Trump and his supporters long ago left behind traditional conservative principles, instead have opted for those most closely espoused by the alt right

But radical leftists like Yoel Roth who is a sworn Trump basher can dictate and play God on twitter and say vile things about the President and conservatives and conservatives have to take it? If they fight back they get blocked, tweets deleted or accounts suspended, that’s acceptable?

https://nypost.com/2020/05/27/twitter-fact-checker-has-history-of-politically-charged-posts/

The political/economic policies the alt right favor are similar to those found in states with strong authoritarian leaders who have control of markets and media.

Nothing like this: ”Today on Meet The Press, we’re speaking with Joseph Goebbels about the first 100 days…’ – What I hear whenever Kellyanne is on a news show,” Roth wrote, according to a 2017 tweet.

Roth in 2016 also tweeted his support for then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, writing, “I’ve never donated to a presidential campaign before, but I just gave $100 to Hillary for America. We can’t f–k around anymore.”

This guy shouldn’t be in any position to valuate anyone as radical and partisan as he is.

Xi leads China's system of authoritarian capitalism. Putin leads Russia's national socialism. (Putin, of course, only 'partially' controls his nation's media.)

The Russia narrative played out long ago, you and Lincoln are beating a dead horse.

Trump and his supporters have claimed all along they want to undermine US systems, and to date appear to be successful.

No, it’s a pity that partisans like Roth think they are Gods and can silence people they disagree with. Liberals have abused this power long enough and thank God Trump finally fixed it, long, long overdue.

-19 ( +5 / -24 )

Social media was fine

@bass4fNo, it wasn’t fine for conservatives, but now it will be.

I thought the modern brand of conservatives (conservatives in name only) were perfectly OK with Russians and their fellow global alt rightists using social media to help Trump. Or are you saying free speech should only be available for Trump supporters.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

@bas4fThe Russia narrative played out long ago, you and Lincoln are beating a dead horse.

Not for me. And given the NSA's (whose director was appointed by Trump) current findings of more Russian involvement, I'd say that horse is mighty alive.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Twitter needs to return volley.

Block him altogether. It's a private platform, they have no responsibility to host him, nor does he have any right to be there.

If they did ban him, it would be too bad, since every time he tweets he take a little more rope with which to hang himself. But I'd love the rage he'd get losing his means of communicating. I mean, how would he Twit afterwards? And how would he freak out about losing Twitter!

Especially if the left stops reporting his comments. Then he'd be angry, and the left wouldn't even know. It would just be a bunch of right wing morons talking about how their going to exercise their second amendment right, and shoot anyone who tries to defend the first amendment.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Congratulations America - you're one step closer to officially becoming an authoritarian state.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Twitter and Facebook are the lifeblood of Trump and his allies. They'll rant and they'll rave, and they'll play the victim, but at the end of the day, they're not going anywhere. They know how critical it is for his campaign.

Of course, this being a free market and all, they could make their own social media app, but that would require actual work and coordination. Much better to complain and keep using the free one.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

You do have to give credit to Trump - he's the moron whisperer. These are the people who have been spazzing for the past few years about freedom of speech, and now they're freaking out encouraging him to clamp down on the freedom of speech of private American companies and citizens.

Trump is the moron whisperer, because with a few tweets, he can make them sell out, sell their soles, and contradict everything they've ever claimed (aka lied) was the most important thing - the constitution.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

This is false.

The numerous non-truths that are spread by the far right have to be challenged.

This is very true. Roth can say incredible lies about conservatives and block them at his leisure because he’s not happy with opposing points of views?

And even then, the right get to have their say.

And then get their account disabled. Now why is Kathy Griffin’s account is still up?

It's those who challenge far right misinformation merchants who are silenced.

But far left liberals are allowed to silence people “they feel” are a danger, they don’t get to have that right, who are they to judge what is right and what is not?

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

100,000 people dead and Trump only cares about twitter? The death toll is twice WW1!

10 ( +12 / -2 )

If our beloved president, trump leaves Twitter I will miss him for sure.

Where else could we see proof of his unfiltered stupidity day after day!!!!

7 ( +9 / -2 )

I thought the modern brand of conservatives (conservatives in name only) were perfectly OK with Russians and their fellow global alt rightists using social media to help Trump.

That was debunked already, that’s why Mueller had nothing.

Or are you saying free speech should only be available for Trump supporters.

To everyone, not just people that Roth feels are getting on his nerves.

Twitter policy is not decided by Dr Yoel Roth.

It shouldn’t be. But it is...

Twitter’s “Head of Site Integrity” Yoel Roth, who is in charge of the team responsible for developing and enforcing the social media site’s rules, faced heavy criticism Wednesday for previous 2017 tweets in which he referred to team Trump as “ACTUAL NAZIS IN THE WHITE HOUSE” and called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a “personality-free bag of farts.”

Trump was not censored and his tweets were not deleted or altered

Not the President, they’re not that stupid, but other conservatives, yes.

-13 ( +0 / -13 )

Interesting that leftist here calling it an attack on freedom of speech when it is the tech companies that have been censoring people's speech on their platforms. Talk about mental gymnastics. You're not fooling anyone, but yourselves.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

Come January 2021, our beloved president trump will face a few lawsuits which require his tweets to be shown as evidence.

Since that will drive him into bankruptcy, I request Twitter to allow our beloved president to ruin himself without any filters.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Trump tweeted a claim that is demonstrably false: that mail-in ballots lead to widespread fraud. Trump does not back up this assertion with any evidence, but when he is fact checked with refuting evidence he screams foul.

Trump has the biggest megaphone in the world, and he grouses about being silenced.

Twitter is a private entity and it can at the least point out to its users if they are being fed lies. That is reasonable, I think.

Trump is a truly deranged and destructive man. He operates only on his own behalf. It boggles the mind that his supporters don’t recognize this.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

But far left liberals are allowed to silence people “they feel” are a danger, they don’t get to have that right, who are they to judge what is right and what is not?

Yup. Private platform, freedom of speech.

Boo hoo to you.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Trump has become a liability to Twitter. They need to drop him yesterday.

Pull the Twitter out fro under his feet. That's the right of Freedom of Speech which Twitter enjoys, same as all Americans.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This is very true. Roth can say incredible lies about conservatives 

Who is this Roth anyway? Does he rival the president in his impact on public discourse?

Thanks for the early morning boogeyman. Like usual, you can’t defend the actions of your evil president.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Wasn't just a week ago the leftist commenters here were applauding censorship by YouTube? Very hypocritical.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Wow now censorship is considered freedom of speech. Talk about digging yourselves into a hole.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

I thought the modern brand of conservatives (conservatives in name only) were perfectly OK with Russians and their fellow global alt rightists using social media to help Trump.

@bas4fThat was debunked already, that’s why Mueller had nothing.

NEVER debunked.

Bipartisan filing sees meddling by Russia; Putin approved it, report advises

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/apr/22/bipartisan-filing-sees-meddling-by-russ/?elections

NSA: Russia's Sandworm Hackers Have Hijacked Mail Servers

https://www.wired.com/story/nsa-sandworm-exim-mail-server-warning/

But if global alt rightists, those who work to undermine the US and the principles the republic was built on, want to continue to trust the Kremlin, of course they're free to.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Wow now censorship is considered freedom of speech.

His tweets haven't been censored. They haven't even been altered. How many times does this need explaining to you?

None of this would be a problem if Trump didn't lie.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

So all trump did was: amend some of the provisions of section 230 of the communications decency act to provide methods for public reporting of bias and remove some liability shields for posted content.

plus some government oversight, which liberals love when Dems doing it.

guess who wants the entire act revoked? Good ole Joe. So Biden wants even more action taken than the actions you blame trump for. Oops

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

You wouldn't know the principals of the republic if it hit you in the face.

Actually I'm quite familiar with the principles, which is why I oppose Trump and his global alt right supporter's efforts to undermine them. I support freedom of the press, freedom of speech and most importantly the Constitution's separation of powers.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

So all trump did was: amend some of the provisions of section 230 of the communications decency act to provide methods for public reporting of bias and remove some liability shields for posted content.

The office of the President, is using that office to try to silence a private entity for exercising their freedom of speech.

And the morons defend it.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Trump never misses an opportunity to prove that he is unfit for office.

100,000+ dead and the focus is on fact-checked hurt feelings?

9 ( +10 / -1 )

I support Twitter in banning Trump altogether out of principle.

The principle being that the troll in chief deserves a good trolling.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Yup. Private platform, freedom of speech.

Boo hoo to you.

Not anymore.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

Not anymore.

Bass: Freedom of Speech, just watch what you say.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

twitter was a platform. Different rules now.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Who is this Roth anyway?

Twitter’s “Head of Site Integrity”

Yoel Roth, who is in charge of the team responsible for developing and enforcing the social media site’s rules,

Does he rival the president in his impact on public discourse?

He pulls the trigger on what you can or cannot say.

Freedom of Speech, just watch what you say.

Now the playing is just that.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Biden wants to get rid of law that shields companies like Facebook from liability for what their users post

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/17/biden-wants-to-get-rid-of-techs-legal-shield-section-230.html

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

Yoel Roth, who is in charge of the team responsible for developing and enforcing the social media site’s rules,

A true American hero this week!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

NEVER debunked. 

It was debunked, it failed.

But if global alt rightists, those who work to undermine the US and the principles the republic was built on, want to continue to trust the Kremlin, of course they're free to

And the radical liberals will continue to beat a dead horse with no listeners.

-14 ( +0 / -14 )

Both Trump and Biden have criticized Big Tech's favorite law — here's what Section 230 says and why they want to change it

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/28/what-is-section-230.html

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

He pulls the trigger on what you can or cannot say.

Trump has any number of media options for spreading his 'intentional misinformations'. Curious why not one pro-Trump supporter has posted anything saying Trump needs to be truthful. But then fractals don't vary much at any level.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

"There is no precedent in American history for so small a number of corporations to control so large a sphere of human interaction.”

Sez born-again "socialist" Don. Seriously, the orange analphabet had someone spell this out for him so a coherent sentence could result. No matter, Twitter should have shut him down long ago for ignoring Melania's "Be Best!" messaging and indulging his instinct for cynical and insulting cyber-bullying, conduct that is unworthy of any human being and signally unworthy of a Potus. There is no chance that Trump will be able to restrict freedom of expression because of his personal umbrage, but I shudder to think of America's shame when this imposter's legacy is finally set in concrete as the "Donald J. Trump Twitter Memorial Library" The words of the American Nobel Laureate would serve well as the epitaph for Trump's disastrous presidency:

Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,

Bury the rag deep in your face

For now’s the time for your tears.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The ghosts of 100,000 Americans dead of coronavirus have issued a statement:

We are glad that Trump is tackling this most important issue of his being fact-checked at this dire time.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Trump's next dodgy tweet should be highlighted in flames, and have a strike symbol next to it. Strike three and you're on Discord.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

You all making this as if there factcheck bull is the only reason trump did this. Censorship has been going on by tech companies for years. It's just the straw that broke the camel's back. You're all very dishonest and not fooling anyone with your fake free speech rhetoric.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

wont change that Biden has even more extreme position than trump on this.

Biden is responsible for every old aching bone ever. Except for the gripes that the right is spouting, which is all of them.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

It is very clear even to purposely obtuse people that it is who is doing the fact check that is in dispute. and who is fact checked compared with who is not.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

twitter was a platform. Different rules now.

Twitter is still a platform. Your line that it has become a publisher on account of providing a link to facts is quite erroneous.

It does not control what people say. When the President makes unsubstantiated claims, it is allowing a mechanism for people to check those claims.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Wait a minute...

If he hates Twitter so much and wants to shut it down, why does he use it so much?

The whole incident of trying to smear Joe Scarborough and infer that he murdered the intern is disgusting. The intern died in his Florida office and he was in Washington at the time.

I am sick of this Trump Reality Show.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

He did no such thing.

Yes, he did.

Trump's tweet was not censored deleted or content altered, unlike on other sites. It was just flagged.

Im not talking about Trump, focus. This is about conservatives in general.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

No one has yet contested anything in the accuracy of the fact check links that Twitter provided.

I think that e can take this as tacit admission that they are accurate and therefore that Trump was inaccurate.

Surely it is great to have this clarified - he is POTUS, so we wouldn't want him spreading misinformation.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Trump has any number of media options for spreading his 'intentional misinformations'.

So and so who’s going to factor the liberals disinformation?

Curious why not one pro-Trump supporter has posted anything saying Trump needs to be truthful.

Depends on what it is you’re saying, but Trump does not own a social media outlet, that’s the difference.

But then fractals don't vary much at any level

Says the people that supported the Russia hoax, give me a break. Lol

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

No one has yet contested anything in the accuracy of the fact check links that Twitter provided.

It's because they're so DISGUSTED with Twitter exercising their freedom-of-speech as a private platform, in criticizing Trump. They are of the opinion that this is such an abuse of the freedom of speech, that in fact in this case the constitution is wrong, and Twitter's freedom-of-speech MUST be restricted.

No fascism here. Carry on.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Great! Is this Service provided for every post by every user in even handed non biased manner? Or only certain viewpoints or by political leaning?

When the President makes unsubstantiated claims, it is allowing a mechanism for people to check those claims.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

So and so who’s going to factor the liberals disinformation?

Whichever your platform starts, so that you can exercise your freedom of speech, the same way Twitter has expressed theirs.

That's the great thing about America, it's a free market, and anyone is welcome to overthrow Twitter with a better platform.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Great! Is this Service provided for every post by every user in even handed non biased manner?

You mean like how Fox and Brietbart report in an even handed manner?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Why would they ever do that? They have freedom of speech. They should exercise it to fact-check Republicans only. Republicans can start their own alternative-fact-check platform to compete.

Good riddance!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

better publisher, not platform. Publishers editorialize content.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

I think that if this whole incident has shown us anything, it's that Twitter should kick him off.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Whichever your platform starts, so that you can exercise your freedom of speech, the same way Twitter has expressed theirs.

By silencing conservatives? As if liberals would be tolerant if the roles were reversed, good one, Strange. Lol

That's the great thing about America, it's a free market, and anyone is welcome to overthrow Twitter with a better platform.

Trump pretty much just did. “Freedom of speech” as you said.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Studies have shown that leftist leaning tweets are deleted at a rate of two-to-one in comparison to leftist leaning tweets.

I think you meant in comparison to right leaning tweets. But consider the fact you cannot even hear the complaints about deleted material from the leftists, because their messages were deleted and they were banned.

Why is this happening? Well I suspect the recent crackdowns were to undercut Bernie Sanders. Maybe they will calm down now that he is out? Now its establishment Jailin' Joe Biden, oddest winner of the medal of freedom EVER, vs. a much cowed and now establishment trained megalomaniac Donald Trump.

As ever talk of cracking down on social media giants is for all the wrong reasons and will give us either no results or completely useless and unneeded changes. People simply need to be provided software to block content via their own choice not have these hidden fascists delete things before we can make up our own minds.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

His account should have been deleted years ago for lying harassment and threats, all against the Terms of Service.

Conservatives that can't follow the rules are the cancer of the Internet. In the early days they weren't online at all and it was bliss. Political discourse wasn't toxic and views were back and forth but never to the level of a reality break like the fine example of the trolls posting here. We had moderators that kicked people off that were weirdos and malcontents against the TOS. It was just done.

As long as the processes outlined in Merchants of Doubt continue to be employed, gaslighting, denials, obfuscation, lying, as long as that is the norm then society continues to crumble.

More so in the USA as it lacks any sense of public trust or responsibility aka Faux News, but you can find any offshoot of that in any country now. The Conservatives are the problem everywhere because they embraced and increased the discord. They were ripe for manipulation because IRL they are not heard. You can't build a society of caring citizens.

We are really seeing the cold war China Russia USA put online

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I think you meant in comparison to right leaning tweets.

Nope. For every right-leaning Tweet that is deleted on Twitter, two left-leaning posts are deleted.

Conservatives have been avoiding this fact the whole time. It doesn't fit into their narrative.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

People simply need to be provided software to block content via their own choice not have these hidden fascists delete things

Silly, no one deleted anything of Trump's.

No, what they actually did was far more evil and nefarious. They fact-checked him.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

No one is silencing convservatives.

As a centrist I suggest reaching out to your brothers on the right. They too are being censored just not as hard as the left. They get it less because they are more pro-establishment, even as the establishment abuses them. This is what you need to call them on. Regaining actual freedom of speech will help all us little people, but we will never do it divided.

Beware though. Many people posting the rubbish you hate most are not real conservatives but just paid trolls who want to keep us divided, arguing and clicking.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As a centrist I suggest reaching out to your brothers on the right. They too are being censored just not as hard as the left. They get it less because they are more pro-establishment, even as the establishment abuses them. This is what you need to call them on. Regaining actual freedom of speech will help all us little people, but we will never do it divided.

The divide has been created. The right destroyed the ability for an honest conversation, by spending eight years obstructing Obama, and now four years whining about it being done to them. By refusing to discuss, or even acknowledge, any of Trump's clear failings as a president. By misrepresenting reality with 'alternate facts'.

It's too late. There is no recovery from this divide. They voted in a troll as president, and then they claimed victim. They're beyond all morality.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Companies like Twitter and Facebook are granted liability protection under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act because they are treated as “platforms," rather than “publishers,” which can face lawsuits over content.

A similar executive order was previously considered by the administration but shelved over concerns it couldn't pass legal muster and that it violated conservative principles on deregulation and free speech.

"They’ve had unchecked power to censor, restrict, edit, shape, hide, alter virtually any form of communication between private citizens or large public audiences," Trump said of social media companies as he prepared to sign the order. "There is no precedent in American history for so small a number of corporations to control so large a sphere of human interaction.”

"They’ve had unchecked power to censor, restrict, edit, shape, hide, alter virtually any form of communication between private citizens or large public audiences,"

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Trump better be careful or else he's going to get himself banned.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Well, the executive order was signed. The “power of the pen and phone” that the last guy loved to boast about.

just wait and see what happens next

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Well, the executive order was signed. The “power of the pen and phone” that the last guy loved to boast about.

Trump uses the power of the presidency to threaten and impede upon the freedom of speech of a private platform.

60 million morons rejoice.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

So we have a situation where a compulsive liar is angry that a private company has the audacity to suggest its users check the accuracy of a statement that appears to be false. In retaliation at finally being called out, he screams unfair, and threatens to wield his power to 'show 'em what for'. His solution is to attempt to prohibit genuine free speech, in order to maintain his own 'free speech' that hasn't actually been impaired.

The mental gymnastics that Trump fans are having to perform in order to support him on this issue is ridiculous.

There is absolutely nothing they wouldn't defend him about. This is a cult, and the sooner he is democratically removed from office the better.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

As a non-American, this move by Trump is actually beneficial. If Trump can destroy the freedom of platoforms to be able to operate in America due to a lack of Freedom of Speech, it holds American companies back, giving foreign alternatives a stronger position in the global playing field.

So as much as I feel for my American brothers and sisters for the loss of the first amendment, I can't help but feel that this is a good thing in the necessity of the world shift it's dependence off of America.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Essentially this makes American platforms the same as Wechat or Weibo in China - useful in their country (as long as you watch what you say), but useless outside the country.

Anyone here using Wechat for anything other than communicating with friends in China?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Really in panic mode today huh?

Whose panicking. I think this is a good thing for the world to shift off of dependence upon American platforms. Now that Trump has restricted their freedom of speech, and turned them into weapons of the state, the rest of the world will become just as suspicious of American platforms as they are of Chinese.

The only real question is which country steps up with platforms that allow freedom of speech.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Trump said the fact checks were “editorial decisions” by Twitter and amounted to political activism.

Well, he is stating a fact there. The censorship and opinion promotion that Twitter, Fakebook et al are doing (e.g. inserting CNN opinions after Trump tweets and calling them "facts"..... really, give me a break) is most certainly political activism.

On the other hand, I am not sure if removing the article 230 protection is the best way to address this... the cure could be worse than the disease.

Until I know more, I am agnostic about this.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Say it ain’t so Joe.

”Most critics of Section 230 recognize the importance of maintaining some of its key elements, like moderation protections. Former Vice President Joe Biden revealed himself as a notable exception.”

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

”Most critics of Section 230 recognize the importance of maintaining some of its key elements, like moderation protections. Former Vice President Joe Biden revealed himself as a notable exception.”

Joe biden is responsible for every spilled milk and tear that followed afterwards ever.

Except for one. Obama is responsible for that one.

(And Hillary)

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I have no problem with the concept of "fact-checking" in the abstract. But calling a CNN opinion piece a "fact check" is really absurd.

And Fox News fact-checks anything?

Hah, what a joke.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

“I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn’t be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online,” Zuckerberg said.

Yet Facebook deletes video links posted in PRIVATE messaging it deems not being the truth.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Fox News thinks fact checking is when one applies alternative facts to a situation.

Like the alternative fact that Twitter stopped Trump from saying anything, or altered the contents of his tweet one bit.

The morons keep trying to skip past that point, as if we're as stupid as the morons who actually believe that.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I do have to say, as far as smart business (ignoring ethics) goes, Zuckerberg is being extremely smart. With Dear Leader focusing the power of the presidency to silence private companies, Zuckerberg is smart to kiss ass, so that maybe he can get an exemption from this government overreach.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

By silencing conservatives? As if liberals would be tolerant if the roles were reversed, good one, Strange. Lol

Conservative voices are rarely silenced.

Some have free rein to post all manner of misinformation and bigotry, whilst those who question the falsehoods and motivation behind them are routinely suspended, deleted and censored.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Fox News thinks fact checking is when one applies alternative facts to a situation.

Maybe, I don´t watch them regularly. But this is certainly what CNN thinks... and Jack Dorsey has now decided that his Twitter is the arbiter of truth, and CNN = truth.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Strangerland:

And Fox News fact-checks anything?

I would assume they do NOT fact-check "everything"... I don´t even think that is possible.

But in what universe does that turn a CNN opinion article into a "fact"?

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

I would assume they do NOT fact-check "everything"... I don´t even think that is possible.

Maybe some day they'll start with something. But as usual, the right logic is "we can't do it 100%, so even trying is useless".

But in what universe does that turn a CNN opinion article into a "fact"?

Heh, who cares? Freedom of speech.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Dorsey (and this new Yoel guy) should kick Trump off, then require he kiss their boots publicly before letting him back on.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

China and Russia sitting back with a smug grin.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

So as much as I feel for my American brothers and sisters for the loss of the first amendment, I can't help but feel that this is a good thing in the necessity of the world shift it's dependence off of America.

It's certainly time.

If trump shuts down twitter, he loses everything.

But dictators aren't known to think about consequences.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@willibIn what universe does censorship equal free speech?

Excellent question. Is free speech allowed in your country? Which platforms or publishers there would you say are good examples of allowing free speech and providing objective, bias-free reporting.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Alt-right logic: The second amendment is our god-given right to shoot people who try to stop Trump from shutting down the freedom-of-speech of a private platform.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

And Fox News fact-checks anything?

Hah, what a joke.

They do, that’s the reason why they have the least amount of retractions.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

Trump is a total failure.

Biden 2020

Bottom photo: Hey, isn't that the guy in whose office a 28 year old female aide was found dead, her skull smashed with multiple fractures?

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

If trump shuts down twitter, he loses everything.

He’s not trying to shut it down.

But dictators aren't known to think about consequences.

This is why Trump stopped the liberal dictatorial nonsense of Roth.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

They do, that’s the reason why they have the least amount of retractions.

Yeah, that's the reason Bass.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I thought the Republicans were against "big government?" Please...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Bottom photo: Hey, isn't that the guy in whose office a 28 year old female aide was found dead, her skull smashed with multiple fractures?

Sound more like one of the youtube basement videos... oh my.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@bas4fThey do, that’s the reason why they have the least amount of retractions.

Given your media insider-ship I assume you're able to access sources that say that. I used Google and found nothing. Should I have used Yandex? I have read that roughly 40% of one survey's respondents claimed to trust Fox most. That's about the same percentage of Americans who support Trump. But then Fox is part of the Trump/Rupert Murdoch media network.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I thought the Republicans were against "big government?" Please...

I thought liberals were for freedom of speech....

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

I am not sure if removing the article 230 protection is the best way to address this... the cure could be worse than the disease.

Trump is a beneficiary of article 230.

Trump's used Twitter for lies, defamation and threats, which were allowed because platforms were not held legally liable. Now, he wants to make it legally liable, because he's butt hurt by Twitter? I know he's too dumb to realize attacking Twitter attacks himself, but he's an idiotic juvenile. Plus, oh yeh, it's a fascist move to silence free speech. Very unpatriotic, but very Trump...he doesn't care actually about America.

He'll fail. And still use Twitter. What a joke, he is.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Actually, I have often thought if was not better if he quit Twitter and moved his tweets to a non-censored platform like Gab or Parler.

Exactly. No one has restricted his freedom of speech, he's allowed to post on whatever platform he wants.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@willibThe problem afaic is that this would increase the tribalization that already exists in the social media world.

But isn't increasing 'tribalization' what your organization wants? I thought you guys were all about divide and conquer, what Trump and other alt rightists around the globe want to do to further undermine democracies.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Thanksgiving is still far away, but the big turkey is gobbling big time.

With the reams of demeaning, denigrating, defamatory tripe Trump has tweeted out over the tears, he freaks out - not at being censored, but at being advised - to the extent that he now is trying to live up to his motto, "I can do anything I want".

Talk about taking away the liberties of citizens and their beloved 1st amendment (his chronic narcissism doesn't allow him to see the hypocrisy)

Talk about divisive hate being spewed at a time of a major health crisis impacting millions.

The Trumpeteers will just say again, "Oh it's just Trump being Trump - get over it". But this time he has directly threatened the freedom of the people with this bout of tyranny - and tyranny it is.

True-value conservatives who have faith in justice and right of law must be spinning out.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The families of 100,000 dead Americans must be proud of their government, that this dire issue of being fact-checked is being properly prioritized with the requisite amount of resources being redirected from the pandemic to stifling Twitter's freedom of speech.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Just to deviate from the partisan bickering, here is a comment by Robert Barnes I came across on Twatter:

"Simpler solution is a one sentence amendment to existing law: Any

publically traded social media company keeps section 230 immunity as long

as they comply with First Amendment standards as if they were a

governmental entity, when acting in the capacity of a publisher."

If that is what Trumps executive order does, it looks totally fine to me. It would preserve the concept and protections of article 230 and put a brake on Big Techs election interference. Anybody would have a problem with that?

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Trump is too stupid to realize that opinions are different from facts. If Trump tweeted that there are 500 million people in the US or that he thinks the world is actually a triangle and not round, Twitter would also apply the fact check mark to such tweets. The number of cases of mail-in ballots that have been fraudulent in the past is tiny so his tweet is wrong, not factual, and therefore misleading.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

As a non-American, I fully support any restrictions of freedom of speech imposed by the White House upon Twitter and other social media platforms.

Weighing these companies down, will give companies in other countries a more level playing field off which to launch.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Anybody would have a problem with that?

I have no problem with Trump imposing governmental regulations and restrictions on SNS platforms in America.

I encourage it.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Good! Any conservative can tell you that non-leftist speech has been getting censored for quite some time, but increasingly so since the non-election of hillary.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Trump is a total failure.

Biden 2020

This is 100% true, it's nice to see it pop up all the time.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Weighing these companies down, will give companies in other countries a more level playing field off which to launch.

I don’t see that happening, but if liberals in Europe want to create an even bigger liberal echo chamber, more power to them.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

I don’t see that happening, but if liberals in Europe want to create an even bigger liberal echo chamber, more power to them.

I agree!

As such, I fully support Trump in his government regulation on SNS platforms. It's about time.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Twitter is a mult-billion dollar business. It could have found other ways to advance its uber-leftist agenda. Instead, it decided to shift from being an empty vessel social media platform to a publishing company; and by doing so, it vacated all the special provisions it was accorded to it by Congress.

By being a private business advancing a political stance that supports one political party over another, Twitter now runs the risk of violating FTC regulations by making an illegal in kind contribution to the DNC.

Of the 100's of tweets President Trump has made over the years that Twitter could have focused on, it's interesting that they chose the mail-in voting issue as the hill that they are willing to die on.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

Who would have thought that a tax dodging, draft dodging, pathological liar obsessed with Twitter would be the darling of American conservatives?

9 ( +10 / -1 )

This Roth deserves a medal of honor. He is truly the most patriotic American in the country right now.

Yeah, well, the Marxist and his revolutionary cause just got busted. Know what I smell....that’s the smell of fairness, I love the smell of fairness in the morning.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

And Fox News fact-checks anything?

Hah, what a joke.

@bassf4They do, that’s the reason why they have the least amount of retractions.

I still haven't read your reply to this:

Given your media insider-ship I assume you're able to access sources that say that. I used Google and found nothing. Should I have used Yandex?

I checked the thread and found nothing.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Yeah, well, the Marxist and his revolutionary cause just got busted. Know what I smell....that’s the smell of fairness, I love the smell of fairness in the morning.

Heh fairness.

In this day and age?

Nope.

Long Live Yoel!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

As am I, and any companies developing social networking platforms outside America

Ok, so where are these so called mythical companies of which you speak?

What fake news are you posting now?

What are you talking about? Lol

Yoel Roth still has his position.

Yes, I never said he was fired, he just got neutered and it’s about time.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his war on social media companies Thursday, signing an executive order challenging the liability protections that have served as a bedrock for unfettered speech on the internet.

Unfettered free speech? Trump doesn't want any of that...

He's learned from his BFF Putin that free speech just allows your corruption and criminal activities to be discovered and highlighted...

Better to have sick, slobbering, sycophants like Hannity, Pirro, Ingraham, and Dobbs - brain-dead idiots that praise your every word...like "Colorado is on our southern border"...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

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