[Disestablishmentarian]

Q-4346

Removing the liability shield of the big social media is big. The only issue is that the President's Order has to now go through the meat grinder of an FCC Rulemaking Procedure, with hearings, filings ad nauseum etc.

If the President happens to NOT be reelected, then the FCC will change hands and call the whole thing off. (Our side did the same to Zero.)

We will see if the threat of the Rulemaking modifies any behavior between now and the election.

On the other hand, Barr used the magic words: "MARKET POWER."

That may sound like plain English, but it is not. MARKET POWER is a very central term of art in the antitrust laws.

A Federal (criminal) antitrust case has the potential, if successful, to get "Structural Relief."

In plain English, the Courts can break up a company if it loses a Federal (DoJ) antitrust case.

Ask Standard Oil or the Bell System.

Barr said:

"Now that they have grown by holding themselves out as free public forums, they have now switched, and they are using that MARKET POWER to force particular viewpoints. And that's wrong. And it has to be addressed; not only through this Executive Order, but I think litigation going forward." (BOOM!)

[Melian]

Litigation takes years.

[Defiant]

Yes, those in the know understood the import of Barr’s words. Hopefully, Facebook, Google and Twitter did, too.

[Bigg Red]

Thank you for explaining that.