4 ms·

I'm sorry, Google will scan my personal files for hate speech now? When exactly the the first amendment become toilet paper? Certainly feels like it happened in

I'm sorry, Google will scan my personal files for hate speech now? When exactly the the first amendment become toilet paper? Certainly feels like it happened in the last 2 years.

freedomben 5y ago
tldr: s/first amendment/free speech principles obligatory mention that the first amendment doesn't apply to private companies, only governments. Then reply and say, "I mean the spirit of the first amendment" and then I'll agree with you. better to just say "free speech principles" rather than "first amendment"
- fallingknife 5y ago
  The first amendment does apply to companies. As in they have the right to not associate with you for any reason. However, there are plenty of cases where that right has been taken from them when their services have been deemed so necessary that they must do business with the general public. e.g. the electric company can't cut you off if they don't like your politics. And until recently we had net neutrality. There is no reason that a platform neutrality policy couldn't be legislated in the same manner without violating the constitution.
  - BlueTemplar 5y ago
    Net Neutrality was very shortlived in the USA though, like, a few years only ?
    - dragonwriter 5y ago
      > Net Neutrality was very shortlived in the USA though, like, a few years only ? That is...not accurate. Net neutrality was FCC policy enforced by case-by-case action from 2005 until a couple such actions were struck down by courts in 2010 as requiring regulation. After that,the FCC adopted them as regulation in the 2010 Open Internet Order (which had been being drafted before the ruling); certain parts of the 2010 order were struck down by the D.C. Circuit in 2014, saying such regulations could not be applied without reclassifying ISPs as telecommunication providers under Title II rather than information service providers under Title I of the Telecommunications Act. Subsequently, the FCC adopted regulations reclassifying ISP and again imposing Net Neutrality regulations in 2015, which (with new leadership because of the Trump Administration), they withdrew in 2017. A number of states have since adopted various net neutrality laws, including California. While the FCC has not yet acted on it, the Biden Administration made bet neutrality executive policy in Executive Order 14036.
- the_doctah 5y ago
  Very well, you are right. I did mean the spirit, and free speech principles. It just feels like every big tech company simultaneously and suddenly decided to crank up censorship. There are even examples of hosting providers and payment processors refusing service to other companies that don't follow certain "guidelines". It's a censorship cartel. When all these companies suddenly decide to turn the screws on certain viewpoints, it is effectively limiting free speech on society. And I shouldn't have to say this, but free speech is a good thing.
KindOne 5y ago
The First Amendment does not apply here since Google is a company.

I'm sorry, Google will scan my personal files for hate speech now? When exactly the the first amendment become toilet paper? Certainly feels like it happened in the last 2 years.

freedomben 5y ago

tldr: s/first amendment/free speech principles obligatory mention that the first amendment doesn't apply to private companies, only governments. Then reply and say, "I mean the spirit of the first amendment" and then I'll agree with you. better to just say "free speech principles" rather than "first amendment"

fallingknife 5y ago
The first amendment does apply to companies. As in they have the right to not associate with you for any reason. However, there are plenty of cases where that right has been taken from them when their services have been deemed so necessary that they must do business with the general public. e.g. the electric company can't cut you off if they don't like your politics. And until recently we had net neutrality. There is no reason that a platform neutrality policy couldn't be legislated in the same manner without violating the constitution.
- BlueTemplar 5y ago
  Net Neutrality was very shortlived in the USA though, like, a few years only ?
  - dragonwriter 5y ago
    > Net Neutrality was very shortlived in the USA though, like, a few years only ? That is...not accurate. Net neutrality was FCC policy enforced by case-by-case action from 2005 until a couple such actions were struck down by courts in 2010 as requiring regulation. After that,the FCC adopted them as regulation in the 2010 Open Internet Order (which had been being drafted before the ruling); certain parts of the 2010 order were struck down by the D.C. Circuit in 2014, saying such regulations could not be applied without reclassifying ISPs as telecommunication providers under Title II rather than information service providers under Title I of the Telecommunications Act. Subsequently, the FCC adopted regulations reclassifying ISP and again imposing Net Neutrality regulations in 2015, which (with new leadership because of the Trump Administration), they withdrew in 2017. A number of states have since adopted various net neutrality laws, including California. While the FCC has not yet acted on it, the Biden Administration made bet neutrality executive policy in Executive Order 14036.
the_doctah 5y ago
Very well, you are right. I did mean the spirit, and free speech principles. It just feels like every big tech company simultaneously and suddenly decided to crank up censorship. There are even examples of hosting providers and payment processors refusing service to other companies that don't follow certain "guidelines". It's a censorship cartel. When all these companies suddenly decide to turn the screws on certain viewpoints, it is effectively limiting free speech on society. And I shouldn't have to say this, but free speech is a good thing.

KindOne 5y ago

The First Amendment does not apply here since Google is a company.