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In the “boycott amazon?” thread (see: https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/boycott-amazon), several posters quickly defended the right of Amazon and other “Big Tech” companies to de-platform anyone they wished to, as it is not a First Amendment issue. Fine. I feel, however, that this rush to defend these giant companies is short sighted and comes primarily because the companies happen to be de-platforming those with opinions they abhor. That’s well and good for today, but tomorrow, they may be de-platforming you, or people with views you happen to support.
No, it’s not a First Amendment issue, but do you have any problems with the fact that just six companies (Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Twitter) and their multi-billionaire CEOs have garnered almost complete control of the flow of information on the Internet? That their power to control messaging and manipulate us via what we see and don’t see surpasses the abilities of most governments? That just two companies control billions of smartphones that are essentially spying ID devices constantly collecting data on what we are saying, thinking, where we go, who we see, what we buy, etc? Sure you can knee-jerk respond that we are free to opt out and not buy a smartphone or use the Internet, but that doesn’t stop you from being tagged/identified in other people’s photos, being recorded on other’s Ring devices while you walk on your street, etc. And it is becoming increasingly difficult to advance or participate in society without interacting with the Internet.
Does this bother you? Instead of sitting back and saying “this has nothing to do with the First Amendment”, do you think our laws are keeping pace with rapidly advancing technology in a way that keeps us safe and free? And what can we as citizens, customers of these companies, and in our role as their products (they collect and sell our personal data, so yes, we have been turned into products) do about it?
Note: If you jump in and crow about how Republicans are to blame because they give businesses carte blanche to do what they want, or Democrats are to blame because they’re in league with Big Tech, etc. you may think you are clever, but you are not providing anything productive. This is a non-partisan issue that affects everyone.
The same as a nation deserves the leaders she elects, she also deserves the media it chooses to use.
Hashem sent us printing press, public libraries, telegraph, telephone, Morse code, radio. Americans decided to watch ABC and CNN.
Hashem then sent PCs, AOL, HTTP, FTP, USENET, AltaVista. We can now share GBs of information with millions of people in seconds. Can you imagine what Moshe Rabeinu would do with that?! Americans decided that they’ll get news from Twitter and FB.So, is it Twitter fault that people prefer being entertained?
It’s Oliver Wendell Holmes’s famous quote “You can’t cry FIRE in a crowded theater and claim freedom of speech”. Social media has given everyone a megaphone and it is the responsibility of the owners to ensure the megaphone doesn’t land in the hands of a fire crier.
Bezos isn’t ceo anymore
“but do you have any problems with the fact that just six companies ”
Yes, but Republicans have long opposed antitrust laws and have packed the courts with sympathetic judges. It will be years before the federal govenment will be able to do anything about the problem and even then that will be only true if Democrats continue to control the White House and Congress.
@Yt he is until Q3 2021.
People have constantly complained that the “big” businesses are too powerful and undermine democracy and freedom. This should be put in historic context. Ask where the current all-powerful evil corporations were 50 years ago? Look at the list of the then all-powerful evil corporations of 50 years ago, and ask how important they are today? If the list from 50 years ago is the same as today (and all the more so, the same as 50 years before that), it would indicate the major corporations have dictatorial control over the country and society. If fact, the lists are significantly different. If people don’t like what a corporation is doing, they’ll take their business elsewhere, and soon that corporation will be looking for new leadership in hopes of rebuilding and reorganizing (or worse, looking for a bankruptcy lawyer).
I’d like to cancel charlihall for bringing in partisonship after the OP explicitly asked not to.
Mods?? Cancellation please? Deplatformazation? Censure ?
Note: If you jump in and crow about how Republicans are to blame because they give businesses carte blanche to do what they want, or Democrats are to blame because they’re in league with Big Tech, etc. you may think you are clever, but you are not providing anything productive. This is a non-partisan issue that affects everyone.
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