I don't know what it's gonna take for people to realize that these are privately owned entities. There's no "free speech" there any more that there's "free speech" on FR. They have their moderators for the same reason we have moderators. They're allowed to take any position they want with the full backing of their supporters/members. They're not backed by the Gov't. Good grief.....
Unlike Fakebook, Free Republic is up front about being a conservative site.
“I don’t know what it’s gonna take for people to realize that these are privately owned entities. There’s no “free speech” there any more that there’s “free speech” on FR. “
You are 100% correct. Individual liberty means the owners or managers of a business are free to accept or deny service. However, the left selectively asserts this “freedom”. Social media companies can deny service based on individuals exercising free speech. However, in some states a Christian baker cannot refuse to produce a custom cake for individuals it chooses not to serve for religious reasons.
The words of the first amendment apply only to Congress, not individuals or companies: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
It will take a constitutional amendment to extend free speech to social media companies. Democrats will not support such an amendment.
NO, they are not privately owned. They have been provided US Government seed money from the CIA venture capital entity.
They hold massive US government IT contracts and are obligated just as a university or city taking government grants accepts a raft of regulations.
And last but not least, they enjoy government protection from content based lawsuits for exactly one reason. They are legally an open conduit with zero editorial control.
So they are legally obligated to serve all comers just as Verizon may not forbid you from calling the Trump campaign office.
“Private company” my azz.
Big Tech is not private.
They hold vast public patent monopoly.
Republican and Democrat are IP trademark monopoly on common words with devastating poor results.
Monopoly destroys.
No, that’s not correct. Facebook & other social media sites are PLATFORMS. They’ve been given protections against being sued for libel based on NOT HAVING CONTROL of what people post.
Since they obviously ARE CONTROLLING what gets posted, they are now a Publisher. Like FreeRepublic.com. FR can be sued for posting things under copyright protections.
Facebook, Twitter, etc., need to be sued for libel, as there shouldn’t be any protection for them. And if they’re hosting objectionable material like Antifa, or Islamic Jihad stuff, they are actually promoting it. We just need a conservative with deep pockets to fund a lawsuit.