Facebook and YouTube are receding from their role as watchdogs against conspiracy theories ahead of the 2024 presidential election

  • WarmSoda@lemm.eeEnglish
    11·
    1 year ago

    People have a huge misconception of what free speech is. Free speech is the ability to speak against or question the government without consequence. It doesn’t have anything else to do with saying whatever you want to say.

    Example:
    “Cheerios are made by milking bats.” is not free speech. It’s just a lie.

    “The president is wrong, and doesn’t know what he’s doing.” is exercising my right to free speech.

    • dmention7@lemm.eeEnglish
      51·
      1 year ago

      The misconception is that freedom of speech means anything other than freedom from prosecution by the state for your speech. It does not mean you are entitled to a platform, it does not mean you cannot be shouted down, and it does not mean private entities cannot (or even should not) censor your speech.

      It’s important to keep unpopular speech legally protected. It’s not at all important to ensure it has a robust platform. For example, Nazis should not be arrested for saying Nazi things; but they should absolutely be deplatformed, socially shunned, and have a blind eye cast when they get punched in the mouth for saying Nazi things in public.

          • WarmSoda@lemm.eeEnglish
            61·
            1 year ago

            Back in the day journalists wouldn’t have been able to publish a story covering what you just quoted. It had to be factual. But that was ripped away, unfortunately. Hell, before Trump and Conway outlets would still point out when someone was flat out lying. But “alternate facts” get more views so they went along with it.

            Liable should come up more, imo. I don’t know why it doesn’t.