[Buckeye McFrog]

First amendment applies to government. Not private companies.

Then we need to make it apply to private companies. They have replaced the Postal Service as the vehicle via which news and debates take place.

[VietVet]

“...we need to make [the First Amendment] apply to private companies.”

I don’t think we want to go there. Rather, I think we need to provide some conservative competition to Facebook and Apple as posting sites and search engines. It would take some time and money, but it would be better for the country, and the world. Competition nearly always improves goods and services.

[doomtrooper99]

I am not a lawyer, but I understand that First Amendment DOES apply to private people under some situations.

I read that there are Federal laws which say that private citizen cant interfere with another citizen’s exercise of constitutional rights. For example, if someone vandalizes a yard sign, that’s a crime. Doesn’t FB and Youtube interfere with Jones’ constitutional rights?

Also, isn’t FB a de facto social media utility just like power or water company? Utilities can’t discriminate.

Is there a lawyer in the house who can tell us more?