4 ms·

Plenty of other countries besides China tightly control internet access. Banning Facebook in the UK would cause them a significant amount of grief and likely c

Plenty of other countries besides China tightly control internet access. Banning Facebook in the UK would cause them a significant amount of grief and likely close their London office (Facebook is the IDP for Facebook employees). Most folks are not going to go through the trouble of setting up VPNs for their phones to connect to Facebook.

seanmcdirmid 8y ago
Banning Facebook in the UK would definitely have an effect at the next polls, where the party in power and the prime minister would definitely be held to account very severely. No semi-democratic country can consider this course of action unless the service is really unpopular.
- ashelmire 8y ago
  I find it unlikely that any corporation being banned would have any substantial impact in an election. After all, we’ve elected some really awful people with far worse policies. The UK voted leave. I doubt they’ll vote to defend Facebook, after they blatantly flout UK law. I’d expect that taking a stand would actually win the party in power more votes.
  - seanmcdirmid 8y ago
    Don’t underestimate populism: if the UK is concerned about Facebook, it isn’t because their citizens aren’t using it! And if their citizens are using it and like using it, then they will be pissed if it’s banned. Now, maybe if the percent of Facebook users is small, there isn’t much need to worrry, but if it’s above 10 or 20%, then that is more than enough to easily turn an election. China had no problem banning gmail even though it was popular there because no one had to suffer through an election for the decision. The UK doesn’t have that luxury.
antihero 8y ago
I think it would be extremely electorally damaging to ban such a major site, because it would affect so many people, even if people aren't hugely openly fond of Facebook, there would be a huge amount of outrage and anger that the government has cut people off, even if it was for the right reasons.

seanmcdirmid 8y ago

Banning Facebook in the UK would definitely have an effect at the next polls, where the party in power and the prime minister would definitely be held to account very severely. No semi-democratic country can consider this course of action unless the service is really unpopular.

ashelmire 8y ago
I find it unlikely that any corporation being banned would have any substantial impact in an election. After all, we’ve elected some really awful people with far worse policies. The UK voted leave. I doubt they’ll vote to defend Facebook, after they blatantly flout UK law. I’d expect that taking a stand would actually win the party in power more votes.
- seanmcdirmid 8y ago
  Don’t underestimate populism: if the UK is concerned about Facebook, it isn’t because their citizens aren’t using it! And if their citizens are using it and like using it, then they will be pissed if it’s banned. Now, maybe if the percent of Facebook users is small, there isn’t much need to worrry, but if it’s above 10 or 20%, then that is more than enough to easily turn an election. China had no problem banning gmail even though it was popular there because no one had to suffer through an election for the decision. The UK doesn’t have that luxury.

antihero 8y ago

I think it would be extremely electorally damaging to ban such a major site, because it would affect so many people, even if people aren't hugely openly fond of Facebook, there would be a huge amount of outrage and anger that the government has cut people off, even if it was for the right reasons.