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It blows my mind. The US has an international reputation for being pro-corporate so from the outside, it makes sense that social networks get away with the lack

It blows my mind. The US has an international reputation for being pro-corporate so from the outside, it makes sense that social networks get away with the lack of accountability they have. However, a large portion of humanity use social networking tools so US legislation has a direct affect on everyone and potentially (inadvertently) it has an effect on the democratic processes of other nations. At what point does it become an international issue?

raxxorrax 6y ago
As someone not from the US, I am so glad that the networks are located there. The US also has a pro-freedom reputation and that is currently really valuable. I never held back with criticism towards the US and won't do so in the future, but on this issue I would staunchly run with the worst hillbilly rednecks you can imagine firing freedom bullets in every direction without an ounce of shame. Democracy has nothing to do with content restrictions.
- kypro 6y ago
  I kind of agree. If these social media sites were located in Europe I expect it would be much worse. I live in the UK and here we have thought police units who will knock on your door to "check your thinking" if you post jokes that are too controversial. While it's obviously a problem that billion dollar foreign internet companies are regulating what we can say online they are at least, for the time being, more aligned to the values of free-speech than many European governments.
  - bzb3 6y ago
    Thanks for posting this. Every time I hear of someone saying that there should me more Internet services based in Europe, I cringe. And I say this as a European.
- Kaze404 6y ago
  I can sympathize with this point, but let's not pretend that this "freedom" represents democracy any better. What we've seen in the past decade regarding the impact modern advertisement has on elections and public privacy to me is a testament to social media in the current state being anything but benefitial to democracy. That said, I don't have a solution.
fit2rule 6y ago
>At what point does it become an international issue? The moment that one point of view is censored/repressed in order to perpetuate the majority. Try it here on HN. You can't openly discuss America's wars without being heavily censored. That's not good for citizens of other countries who want to engage in cross-cultural discourse in order to understand why it is happening to them.
kobalsky 6y ago
Cold war CIA wouldn't have dreamt with the power that social networks, streaming sites and tech companies have over electoral processes in other countries. I live in a small city in the ass end of the world, but my local politicians, who live a few miles from my home, fork money (a lot of money) over to FB and Google so I can see their ads. They have a huge impact on who gets elected.

raxxorrax 6y ago

As someone not from the US, I am so glad that the networks are located there. The US also has a pro-freedom reputation and that is currently really valuable. I never held back with criticism towards the US and won't do so in the future, but on this issue I would staunchly run with the worst hillbilly rednecks you can imagine firing freedom bullets in every direction without an ounce of shame. Democracy has nothing to do with content restrictions.

kypro 6y ago
I kind of agree. If these social media sites were located in Europe I expect it would be much worse. I live in the UK and here we have thought police units who will knock on your door to "check your thinking" if you post jokes that are too controversial. While it's obviously a problem that billion dollar foreign internet companies are regulating what we can say online they are at least, for the time being, more aligned to the values of free-speech than many European governments.
- bzb3 6y ago
  Thanks for posting this. Every time I hear of someone saying that there should me more Internet services based in Europe, I cringe. And I say this as a European.
Kaze404 6y ago
I can sympathize with this point, but let's not pretend that this "freedom" represents democracy any better. What we've seen in the past decade regarding the impact modern advertisement has on elections and public privacy to me is a testament to social media in the current state being anything but benefitial to democracy. That said, I don't have a solution.

fit2rule 6y ago

>At what point does it become an international issue? The moment that one point of view is censored/repressed in order to perpetuate the majority. Try it here on HN. You can't openly discuss America's wars without being heavily censored. That's not good for citizens of other countries who want to engage in cross-cultural discourse in order to understand why it is happening to them.

kobalsky 6y ago

Cold war CIA wouldn't have dreamt with the power that social networks, streaming sites and tech companies have over electoral processes in other countries. I live in a small city in the ass end of the world, but my local politicians, who live a few miles from my home, fork money (a lot of money) over to FB and Google so I can see their ads. They have a huge impact on who gets elected.