5 ms·

Oligarchs owning media and having it run PR is not new, both locally (Orban, Babis , Berlusconi) and globally (Kochs, Murdoch, Bezos). What is new is the free

by glogla 5y ago

Oligarchs owning media and having it run PR is not new, both locally (Orban, Babis , Berlusconi) and globally (Kochs, Murdoch, Bezos). What is new is the free speech angle - but that seems to be just Musks ego. Musk is doing what every other billionaire is doing, but has to spin it as saving the world, somehow.

api 5y ago
It's not even new in America. If people think it is, I'd like to introduce you to William Randolph Hearst: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Randolph_Hearst https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Randolph_Hearst Media is far more open and diverse today than at any time in human history. Historically it was impossible to publish anything without approval by an editor or publisher, a lot of money, or political power. Publishing was capital intensive and more regulated than it is today.
twofornone 5y ago
>but that seems to be just Musks ego Is it? Or maybe he's identified a legitimate opportunity considering that about half the nation feels as though twitter et al are more likely to clamp down on discussions of their ideas under the guise of "misinformation"? Stroking his ego is a bonus. From a strictly business perspective, there's room for a public square which is friendlier to right leaning thought. Arguably from a sociological/political perspective as well.
- kevingadd 5y ago
  Right leaning thought is already welcomed in large portions of the public square. Right-wing media outlets are very successful and have been for a long time, and people can get all sorts of opinions broadcasted there. There are also multiple right-wing Twitter alternatives out there for anyone upset about Twitter's (relatively lax, honestly) moderation. Despite any complaints about Twitter moderation the fact is that plenty of people are able to broadcast right-wing views there. Could additional places to communicate be useful? Sure, why not. Are we lacking them? Absolutely not. COVID disinformation did result in right-wing speech being theoretically suppressed in some places, but that's because a lot of right-wing people were openly and loudly broadcasting absolute nonsense, which got their general ability to speak on those platforms curtailed. That was a self-inflicted wound, though, and not something that really can get fixed by new platforms. I'll also note that many media outlets people call "left-leaning" openly welcome and platform right-wing speech. CNN, ny times, etc frequently hire right-wing politicians and commentators to "balance" their commentary.
  - hn_version_0023 5y ago
    I’m reminded of the bit in Netflix’ “Death to 2020” where Lisa Kudrow claims conservative voices are being silenced!! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CPNZTtoQBmA https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CPNZTtoQBmA
  - TMWNN 5y ago
    >COVID disinformation did result in right-wing speech being theoretically suppressed in some places Example of disinformation being rightfully suppressed: COVID19 could never, ever have been propagated to the world from a lab leak in China, and saying otherwise means you are TrumpNaziKKKracist. Oh, wait (<https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fact-check-how-the-wuhan-lab-leak-theory-for-pandemic-origin-suddenly-became-credible/ https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fact-check-how-the...>).
- troyvit 5y ago
  What's interesting to me is that people see making a company _private_ and therefore limiting its ownership to just a few people is somehow going to make it more conducive to free speech. How does closing something off and putting it under one person's auspices make it more open?
algoatecorn 5y ago
I think Musk has knowingly cultivated an audience of sycophants who rarely read past headlines. Some of their commentary is hilarious, as if he is a messiah. We saw it with the Tham Luang cave rescue, Ukrainian skylink, and now with "free speech". Each time he delivers nothing, yet improves his image among followers. He has undoubtedly been successful, but I question his motives, character, and ability to actually improve equity and wellbeing of the population. Just a man with a lot of money and ego to match
jeffwask 5y ago
Rockefeller, Mellon, Hearst
hef19898 5y ago
Well, with everthing wrong about Bezo's treatment of employees and workers, his ownership of the WP is somewhat different from those other examples. For now.
postsantum 5y ago
Yes, but media being owned by a few families rhetoric used to be in the "conspiracy theory" territory until now. Musk has been pretty open about that, remember his "who do you think owns the press" tweet?
- hello_popppet 5y ago

by glogla 5y ago

api 5y ago

It's not even new in America. If people think it is, I'd like to introduce you to William Randolph Hearst: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Randolph_Hearst https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Randolph_Hearst Media is far more open and diverse today than at any time in human history. Historically it was impossible to publish anything without approval by an editor or publisher, a lot of money, or political power. Publishing was capital intensive and more regulated than it is today.

twofornone 5y ago

>but that seems to be just Musks ego Is it? Or maybe he's identified a legitimate opportunity considering that about half the nation feels as though twitter et al are more likely to clamp down on discussions of their ideas under the guise of "misinformation"? Stroking his ego is a bonus. From a strictly business perspective, there's room for a public square which is friendlier to right leaning thought. Arguably from a sociological/political perspective as well.

kevingadd 5y ago
Right leaning thought is already welcomed in large portions of the public square. Right-wing media outlets are very successful and have been for a long time, and people can get all sorts of opinions broadcasted there. There are also multiple right-wing Twitter alternatives out there for anyone upset about Twitter's (relatively lax, honestly) moderation. Despite any complaints about Twitter moderation the fact is that plenty of people are able to broadcast right-wing views there. Could additional places to communicate be useful? Sure, why not. Are we lacking them? Absolutely not. COVID disinformation did result in right-wing speech being theoretically suppressed in some places, but that's because a lot of right-wing people were openly and loudly broadcasting absolute nonsense, which got their general ability to speak on those platforms curtailed. That was a self-inflicted wound, though, and not something that really can get fixed by new platforms. I'll also note that many media outlets people call "left-leaning" openly welcome and platform right-wing speech. CNN, ny times, etc frequently hire right-wing politicians and commentators to "balance" their commentary.
- hn_version_0023 5y ago
  I’m reminded of the bit in Netflix’ “Death to 2020” where Lisa Kudrow claims conservative voices are being silenced!! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CPNZTtoQBmA https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CPNZTtoQBmA
- TMWNN 5y ago
  >COVID disinformation did result in right-wing speech being theoretically suppressed in some places Example of disinformation being rightfully suppressed: COVID19 could never, ever have been propagated to the world from a lab leak in China, and saying otherwise means you are TrumpNaziKKKracist. Oh, wait (<https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fact-check-how-the-wuhan-lab-leak-theory-for-pandemic-origin-suddenly-became-credible/ https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/fact-check-how-the...>).
troyvit 5y ago
What's interesting to me is that people see making a company _private_ and therefore limiting its ownership to just a few people is somehow going to make it more conducive to free speech. How does closing something off and putting it under one person's auspices make it more open?

algoatecorn 5y ago

I think Musk has knowingly cultivated an audience of sycophants who rarely read past headlines. Some of their commentary is hilarious, as if he is a messiah. We saw it with the Tham Luang cave rescue, Ukrainian skylink, and now with "free speech". Each time he delivers nothing, yet improves his image among followers. He has undoubtedly been successful, but I question his motives, character, and ability to actually improve equity and wellbeing of the population. Just a man with a lot of money and ego to match

jeffwask 5y ago

Rockefeller, Mellon, Hearst

hef19898 5y ago

Well, with everthing wrong about Bezo's treatment of employees and workers, his ownership of the WP is somewhat different from those other examples. For now.

postsantum 5y ago

Yes, but media being owned by a few families rhetoric used to be in the "conspiracy theory" territory until now. Musk has been pretty open about that, remember his "who do you think owns the press" tweet?

hello_popppet 5y ago