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So how does this fit into the "Twitter is a private company" argument when users complain about their free speech rights after being suspended? If one's accoun

So how does this fit into the "Twitter is a private company" argument when users complain about their free speech rights after being suspended? If one's account is suspended they cannot - by definition - access Trump's tweets. This is similar reasoning as that given in court: "comments on the president’s account [are] public forums and that blocking Twitter Inc users for their views violated their right to free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution". If Twitter suspends someone for their views are they violating free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? Obviously there's many ways to interact with Twitter while suspended - similarly there are many ways to read Trump's tweets while blocked. I don't have a take, I'm just curious as to what this may lead to.

paulpauper 8y ago
the situation becomes messy because the next question is, should any public official not be allowed to block. This includes Congressmen accounts or senators. If Twitter retains the right to revoke individual access to the site, then Trump should be able to do what he wants with this account. IF Trump were using a federally-funded social network, then that would be a different issue
bumholio 8y ago
> If one's account is suspended they cannot - by definition - access Trump's tweets. Since that is clearly not true, one practical effect is that it's setting a very low bar the difficulty one should overcome before claiming they are excluded from official communication by the government. If the necessity of logging out then logging back in (or merely opening an Incognito window with a single click) is a rights violation, then surely not having any kind of access to online communication by the government is a much worse violation. So the government should either cease to use the internet or should make it available to all citizens as a basic citizen right.
s73v3r_ 8y ago
Twitter is a private company. The President's Twitter Account is not a private entity, though. "If one's account is suspended they cannot - by definition - access Trump's tweets. This is similar reasoning as that given in court: "comments on the president’s account [are] public forums and that blocking Twitter Inc users for their views violated their right to free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution"." If I go into one of the President's rallies and start waving my dick around, or otherwise act indecent, I can and will be asked to leave.

paulpauper 8y ago

the situation becomes messy because the next question is, should any public official not be allowed to block. This includes Congressmen accounts or senators. If Twitter retains the right to revoke individual access to the site, then Trump should be able to do what he wants with this account. IF Trump were using a federally-funded social network, then that would be a different issue

bumholio 8y ago

> If one's account is suspended they cannot - by definition - access Trump's tweets. Since that is clearly not true, one practical effect is that it's setting a very low bar the difficulty one should overcome before claiming they are excluded from official communication by the government. If the necessity of logging out then logging back in (or merely opening an Incognito window with a single click) is a rights violation, then surely not having any kind of access to online communication by the government is a much worse violation. So the government should either cease to use the internet or should make it available to all citizens as a basic citizen right.

s73v3r_ 8y ago

Twitter is a private company. The President's Twitter Account is not a private entity, though. "If one's account is suspended they cannot - by definition - access Trump's tweets. This is similar reasoning as that given in court: "comments on the president’s account [are] public forums and that blocking Twitter Inc users for their views violated their right to free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution"." If I go into one of the President's rallies and start waving my dick around, or otherwise act indecent, I can and will be asked to leave.