Right or left, you should be worried about big tech censorship (eff.org)

Article summary

The article discusses the issue of big tech censorship and its impact on free speech, highlighting that it's not just conservatives who are being censored, but also other groups such as Palestinians, queer people, and critics of Israel. The article argues that content moderation is a complex issue and that the current approach is flawed. It suggests that interoperability, or the ability of different platforms to connect with each other, could be a solution to the problem of censorship. The article also mentions the ACCESS Act, a proposed law that would force big tech platforms to open up their platforms to third-party services.

Main themes

• big tech censorship
• free speech
• content moderation
• interoperability
• ACCESS Act
• misinformation
• hate speech
• online indoctrination
• trust and conspiracy theories

What commenters say

• Some argue that censorship is necessary to prevent the spread of harmful ideas, while others believe that it is a slippery slope that can be used to silence marginalized groups.
• The idea that free speech absolutism has not worked well is countered by the argument that censorship can be used to suppress legitimate dissent.
• There is a concern that censorship can be used to hide the truth and that it is better to address misinformation with facts and dialogue rather than silencing it.
• Others argue that the issue of misinformation is a trust issue and that silencing concerns about vaccines, for example, can confirm conspiracy theories rather than addressing them.
• The argument is made that the structure of online indoctrination is a material thing and that it has a long history, and that allowing hate groups to spread their ideas can have real-world consequences.
• It is suggested that the size of hate groups and their impact should be considered when evaluating the effectiveness of censorship.
• Some believe that censorship can be used to protect people from harm, while others argue that it can be used to control people's thoughts and ideas.