4 ms·
at the end of the day twitter has the right to close whatever account they so choose
by sitzkrieg 6y ago
at the end of the day twitter has the right to close whatever account they so choose
- mc32 6y agoLegally, yes. But given the prominence and importance it has with regards to disseminating news and opinion, I think it’s their responsibility to take their obligation seriously. The phones at one time we’re not “utilities”. Social media may become the next regulated utility given its importance.
- dragonwriter 6y agoPhones aren’t a utility merely because of their general importance, but because of the specific importance to the public interest of having a single, universal telephone network. I don’t think there is a great public interest in a single curated (algorithmically and/or manually) user-generated-content newsfeed system. In fact, insofar as such a category of product is desirable, I think that the public interest is in competition and freedom to differentiate, including in terms of content focus and preferences within the bounds of the law, just as is the case with, say, news outlets that aren’t driven by UGC.
- ballenf 6y agoYes, and people have to right to tell random strangers to fuck off and give kids the middle finger. Doesn't mean we can't try to talk someone out of doing that or discuss how such behavior makes society slightly worse.
- jjk166 6y agoThey also have the legal right to modify everyone's tweets to be quotes from mein kampf. That they have the right to do something doesn't mean they should do it nor that they should be immune to criticism for doing it.
- LevGoldstein 6y agoThat would be pretty easily proven as defamation/libel, and thus not legal.
- d0100 6y agoUntil we the people choose how the day ends by regulating huge companies that act as social "town squares"