> "Codifying a distinction between platform and publisher would require a place like HN to consider either shutting down comments and submissions entirely or ab

> "Codifying a distinction between platform and publisher would require a place like HN to consider either shutting down comments and submissions entirely or abandoning any efforts at moderation. It would suck, royally." The "freedom of speech means any and all speech has to be allowed" strawman doesn't stand up to scrutiny. It's perfectly possible to build a platform / publisher distinction where: - Illegal speech is still illegal and can be rejected - Speech irrelevant to the platform, like spam, verbal abuse, or demonstrably off-topic speech, can still be rejected by moderators while still permitting deplorable but legitimate speech. So, no, it wouldn't be the ghastly, no moderation free-for-all that the anti-liberalism advocates try to scare people with.