5 ms·

Why is Twitter the speaker when MTG tweets, but Verizon is not the speaker when I call my mom?

• MattPalmer1086 5y ago
  Good question. I'd say it has to do with how public the communication in question is, but I'd be interested in other opinions.
• darkstar999 5y ago
  Because Verizon isn't broadcasting your conversation to the world.
• hairofadog 5y ago
  Your conversation with your mom is private communication, while your tweets are broadcast communications.
  • psyc 5y ago
    You've stated a fact. Why does this fact make Twitter the speaker whose free speech rights take precedence?
    • short12 5y ago
      It's apples and oranges and therefore are not and should not be regulated in the same way
    • hairofadog 5y ago
      I think that fact is pertinent, but it may also be helpful to think of the distinction between a publisher and a technology. If I write a book called “Vaccines Kill and Trump is Still President”, it feels fair and correct to me that Random House has the right to pass on publishing it but that nobody could stop me from reading it to someone over the phone or mailing it to someone.
• clowd 5y ago
  The pragmatic answer is: because the law says so. The technical answer is: Verizon can't hear what you're saying to your mom, so they don't know/care the content. The social answer is: ultimately there's no real difference between the two. If you use your Verizon phone to make harassing calls to your mom and she reports those calls to Verizon, or if you do something else that violates your agreement with Verizon, they too have the right to terminate your service: "We can, without notice, limit, suspend or end your Service or any agreement with you for any good cause, including, but not limited to: (1) if you: (a) breach this agreement or violate our prohibited usage policies..." Now, because you pay Verizon, and Verizon likes money, they may be more inclined to tolerate certain behavior as long as you pay your bill on time. That's their choice, though.