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In the context of the various US objections to China, de-platforming narrows one distinction between the Chinese authoritarian treatment of speech and the US's.
by cheese_van 6y ago
In the context of the various US objections to China, de-platforming narrows one distinction between the Chinese authoritarian treatment of speech and the US's. While all nation-states are hypocritical to a degree, it certainly allows the Chinese to underline this hypocrisy, while providing cover and justification for their own lack of internet speech freedoms. Not a happy trend for free speech absolutists anywhere.
- Barrin92 6y agoI don't think there's anything that distinguishes the US more from China than a private platform being able to deplatform the president, rather than be bullied by him. There is no hypocrisy here. The only relevant rights in the US are the rights of twitter to not be compelled to publish someone's speech, and freedom of association. That unlike in China, Trump is subject to the TOS of Twitter is as American and as free-speech faithful as it gets. The only shameful thing was that Twitter carved out exceptions for him because they were afraid of political retaliation over the last four years. In fact having the government and the executive exercise influence over private business would make the US more like China, not less. When a politician is kicked off a platform for violating its terms it's not a violation of "free speech", it's the politician behaving like a five year old who says "mom, the other kids don't want me on the playground!" Free speech is not "in your face"-ism. It does not entitle anyone to scream on someone else's property.
- im3w1l 6y agoWhile he has the chair for a few more days, he is for most intents and purposes a disgraced former leader. China would certainly deplatform someone like that.