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> b) when an individual or organization is removed from the platform based on an written policy, known by the users of the platform in advance and verified by a

> b) when an individual or organization is removed from the platform based on an written policy, known by the users of the platform in advance and verified by a second team. Upon request an explanation of why the account was deplatformed should be made available. That alone would be great. They should have to justify exactly why they removed someone. And by making it explicit, they open a pathway for legal action. But more importantly, these platforms need to be declared public utilities and forced to be transparent. This is not controversial and is usually welcomed by the public when it happens. Most public utilities that we enjoy today started out as being completely private. The fire dept would let your house burn down if you were late with your bills. The telegraph company would ban you from their private network if you were a journalist that criticized them. The electric companies would make you agree to onerous terms to get electricity. And currently we have this mess with private medical insurance companies and tech platforms. It is time for us to nationalize Facebook.

eitland 7y ago
Edit: added quotes. Added part about not wanting any social network nationalized. > But more importantly, these platforms need to be declared public utilities and forced to be transparent. This is not controversial and is usually welcomed by the public when it happens. Even just a real threat that it might happen might, if it became visible enough, drive some introspection and push them in right direction. > It is time for us to nationalize Facebook. Assuming you are from US (but mostly valid anyway): Not sure if I'd want your president, now or in 6 years, to have more say over the biggest social media networks than they already have.
philh 7y ago
> It is time for us to nationalize Facebook. Note that even accepting your previous paragraphs, this doesn't follow. Most public utilities are already not nationalized afaik; I'm not american, but none of my electricity, gas, water, phone or internet are provided by government-owned or -operated companies, and I'd be surprised if it was much different over there. They're regulated, but not nationalized.

eitland 7y ago

Edit: added quotes. Added part about not wanting any social network nationalized. > But more importantly, these platforms need to be declared public utilities and forced to be transparent. This is not controversial and is usually welcomed by the public when it happens. Even just a real threat that it might happen might, if it became visible enough, drive some introspection and push them in right direction. > It is time for us to nationalize Facebook. Assuming you are from US (but mostly valid anyway): Not sure if I'd want your president, now or in 6 years, to have more say over the biggest social media networks than they already have.

philh 7y ago

> It is time for us to nationalize Facebook. Note that even accepting your previous paragraphs, this doesn't follow. Most public utilities are already not nationalized afaik; I'm not american, but none of my electricity, gas, water, phone or internet are provided by government-owned or -operated companies, and I'd be surprised if it was much different over there. They're regulated, but not nationalized.