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> Where is it written that private internets are perfectly normal when a corporation does it, but evil when a country does too? The impact is different*, scale
by Ygg2 4y ago
> Where is it written that private internets are perfectly normal when a corporation does it, but evil when a country does too?
The impact is different*, scale is different, and countries doing it have track record of using it to hide their misdeeds.
*It's generally ok if you build a wall around your property. Not so much if a country does it.
- jaywalk 4y agoIn reality, corporations hold just as much if not more power over the Internet than governments. Even though a corporation can't physically lock you up, they can (and have, many times) give you a virtual "death penalty" if they don't like you for whatever reason. This is not OK, and "but private companies can do what they want" really needs to be rethought to reflect reality. We have governments essentially using corporations to get around their own legal restrictions.
- seydor 4y ago> countries doing it have track record of using it to hide their misdeeds. And companies don't? Internet companies are media, so their function is not neutral to the existence and function of states. Constitutions all around the world have specific "free press" provisions because the press is not "just another private business" but it has very real consequences for the existence of states. So do tech companies today, but they are untouchable, they enjoy even more protections than free press. We still live with memories of the liberal internet of the '90s (even though we know it's long gone) and we stick to this romantic view of the intent of tech companies. The scale of those companies is bigger than indivudual states so i dont think the comparison is apt either.
- fallingknife 4y agoFreedom of the press doesn't mean freedom for a specific type of private business. It means anybody with a printing press. In other words anybody is allowed to publish and distribute whatever they want.
- hulitu 4y agoCan you name a place where this is possible ?
- fallingknife 4y ago1700's USA. Internet up to 2015 ish.
- etchalon 4y agoToday, in the US.
- staringback 4y agoThe Tor network.
- Ygg2 4y agoBy state misdeeds I mean labor camp, concentration centers and war crimes, etc. Very few private companies in history could have enough power to be able to commit crimes against humanity.
- seydor 4y agowell, all slave traders did. Amazon would be selling police services , private armies and nukes if it was allowed to.