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The power imbalance means companies can use all sorts of crazy leverage to do all sorts of things that wouldn't really be fair in a free market, and certainly n

by jariel 6y ago

The power imbalance means companies can use all sorts of crazy leverage to do all sorts of things that wouldn't really be fair in a free market, and certainly not a free market of ideas etc.. I'll bet $100 that companies would love to wash their hands of a lot of this stuff, and just be able to 'comply' with some regulatory things so they can't be blamed or get into trouble one way or another.

Karunamon 6y ago
I'd take that bet. Leaked conversations from Twitter and Google insiders show that the platform owners are well aware of the power their platforms give them. That's a power that can't be accurately measured in dollars, and speaking purely selfishly on their behalf, one that they'd be fools to give up.
- jariel 6y ago
  Twitter tanked 10% on the Trump ban announcement. Trump pushed very hard to dump legislation that favours them. Angela Merkel, Macron and the EU Comission have spoken negatively about the ban. i.e. the most powerful people in the world are speaking up, against you. Bad. Parler - their 'evileenemy' was the #1 download (!) on App Store before the ban. There is serious talk of breaking up those companies and issues of 'free speech' are top spot in the headlines. Empathically - no - those companies do not want to be in that position. I think you're misinterpreting those leaks. It makes certain individuals feel powerful, gives them the influence to 'stop Trump' - but in the end, it's a massive distraction for their business. They will be fighting these fires daily for some time. From a business perspective - they just want to make money. They don't want to be fighting political wars because if they're taking on the US, the EU and other governments, they're going to lose somewhere. They don't 'make more money' by being able to ban Trump and Bannon under their own guise - they risk it. But if an independent board acting according to government regulation bans Trump, well, then it's 'not their fault'.

by jariel 6y ago

Karunamon 6y ago

I'd take that bet. Leaked conversations from Twitter and Google insiders show that the platform owners are well aware of the power their platforms give them. That's a power that can't be accurately measured in dollars, and speaking purely selfishly on their behalf, one that they'd be fools to give up.

jariel 6y ago
Twitter tanked 10% on the Trump ban announcement. Trump pushed very hard to dump legislation that favours them. Angela Merkel, Macron and the EU Comission have spoken negatively about the ban. i.e. the most powerful people in the world are speaking up, against you. Bad. Parler - their 'evileenemy' was the #1 download (!) on App Store before the ban. There is serious talk of breaking up those companies and issues of 'free speech' are top spot in the headlines. Empathically - no - those companies do not want to be in that position. I think you're misinterpreting those leaks. It makes certain individuals feel powerful, gives them the influence to 'stop Trump' - but in the end, it's a massive distraction for their business. They will be fighting these fires daily for some time. From a business perspective - they just want to make money. They don't want to be fighting political wars because if they're taking on the US, the EU and other governments, they're going to lose somewhere. They don't 'make more money' by being able to ban Trump and Bannon under their own guise - they risk it. But if an independent board acting according to government regulation bans Trump, well, then it's 'not their fault'.