4 ms·

Well, these unnamed "tech companies" are responsible for the proliferation of absurd lies that will elect a far right authoritarian candidate in my country, Bra

by neves 8y ago

Well, these unnamed "tech companies" are responsible for the proliferation of absurd lies that will elect a far right authoritarian candidate in my country, Brazil. The spread of this lies happens with the support of a well financed organization. I always thought that the Internet would be a democratic platform that would improve the debate in society. Maybe we would go back to a democracy without intermediaries. I was wrong. We are entering a dystopian world where the profits of a handful of companies are more important than the rest of society.

tedunangst 8y ago
Modest proposal: The government should appoint a Department of Truth to review and approve all social media posts in a country to eliminate election misinformation.
- ethanwillis 8y ago
  What's really depressing is that I can't tell if you're joking or not.
  - Arubis 8y ago
    (s)he's joking, but the only reason I'm sure is the use of "modest proposal", not the actual content.
- soule 8y ago
  Minitrue!
halfnibble 8y ago
I just read an article today about a named tech company banning marketing accounts associated with said far-right candidate. But I don't think that will stop him from a landslide win. The knife was the opposition's best hope.
- neves 8y ago
  It was too late and hardly made a dent in their fake news network. One of the blocked accounts were of the son of the candidate.
aeternus 8y ago
What should these tech companies have done to prevent this?
- neves 8y ago
  This NYT article https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/opinion/brazil-election-fake-news-whatsapp.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/opinion/brazil-election-f... has some tips: - limit the amount of persons in a group - limit the amount of people you can forward a message - Restrict broadcasts
Grue3 8y ago
>Well, these unnamed "tech companies" are responsible for the proliferation of absurd lies that will elect a far right authoritarian candidate in my country, Brazil. There was no reason why the opposition to that candidate couldn't have put up their own absurd lies, or, dare I say, disproved the far right candidate's lies, thereby achieving the same success via the same platform. The elections are all about effective campaigning. You can't blame the platform because the candidate you don't like is too effective at using it. Instead learn from your mistakes and use this platform to be just as effective.
- neves 8y ago
  No, anyone of a minimal of ethics and responsibility can't spread these kind of lies. Then they spend all the time refuting absurd lies instead of explaining their proposals.
Nasrudith 8y ago
That is a strange definition of responsibility - the voters aren't responsible? They lack agency completely? The propagandists who would and have used other means like newspapers, radio broadcasts and even just whispered malicious rumors? They completely lack agency as well? Tech is just the easy scapegoat for society.

by neves 8y ago

tedunangst 8y ago

Modest proposal: The government should appoint a Department of Truth to review and approve all social media posts in a country to eliminate election misinformation.

ethanwillis 8y ago
What's really depressing is that I can't tell if you're joking or not.
- Arubis 8y ago
  (s)he's joking, but the only reason I'm sure is the use of "modest proposal", not the actual content.
soule 8y ago
Minitrue!

halfnibble 8y ago

I just read an article today about a named tech company banning marketing accounts associated with said far-right candidate. But I don't think that will stop him from a landslide win. The knife was the opposition's best hope.

neves 8y ago
It was too late and hardly made a dent in their fake news network. One of the blocked accounts were of the son of the candidate.

aeternus 8y ago

What should these tech companies have done to prevent this?

neves 8y ago
This NYT article https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/opinion/brazil-election-fake-news-whatsapp.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/opinion/brazil-election-f... has some tips: - limit the amount of persons in a group - limit the amount of people you can forward a message - Restrict broadcasts

Grue3 8y ago

>Well, these unnamed "tech companies" are responsible for the proliferation of absurd lies that will elect a far right authoritarian candidate in my country, Brazil. There was no reason why the opposition to that candidate couldn't have put up their own absurd lies, or, dare I say, disproved the far right candidate's lies, thereby achieving the same success via the same platform. The elections are all about effective campaigning. You can't blame the platform because the candidate you don't like is too effective at using it. Instead learn from your mistakes and use this platform to be just as effective.

neves 8y ago
No, anyone of a minimal of ethics and responsibility can't spread these kind of lies. Then they spend all the time refuting absurd lies instead of explaining their proposals.

Nasrudith 8y ago

That is a strange definition of responsibility - the voters aren't responsible? They lack agency completely? The propagandists who would and have used other means like newspapers, radio broadcasts and even just whispered malicious rumors? They completely lack agency as well? Tech is just the easy scapegoat for society.