Pimpernel is a big time supporter of free speech, something considered so important that it is the first amendment to our constitution. The courts have put limitations on it historically and rightly so. Libel laws are the best example; but, one can include yelling fire in a theater when there is none. Incitement to violence and putting out certain private information about someone (posting naked pictures of your ex for instance) are also restricted. The limitations on free speech are few in the United States.
While the government is limited in preventing free speech, private companies are not. This leads private companies to limit speech to what is generally accepted. If I believe ignorantly that the earth is flat, should that be restricted? What if I say it as a joke? Freedom of speech means you have a right to be wrong, if you do not then who gets to determine what the truth is? If I have a right to say we should have open borders, do I have a right to say I want the borders controlled?
Well, the big social media companies are restricting these things, especially YouTube. We are headed down a very dangerous path. If these companies can restrict what you say on their platforms, they can also restrict what you say in your e-mails and trust me that is coming too. You might laugh at this thought; but, the tech is the exact same tech. Imagine this situation, a group of neo-Nazis use the internet to create e-mail lists of all their members to send messages to one another to arrange gatherings and spread misinformation about Jews or Blacks, or whoever. What happens if Gmail wants to stop it and uses algorithms to prevent them from having those conversations. Is there a reason that could not happen? The tech is there.
In the past, you could write what you wanted in personal letters, they were protected by the first amendment, not so for e-mails. If we are to have freedom of speech on the internet then the rules must follow the nations rules and in the United States that means freedom of speech.
Algorithms cannot detect comedy or sarcasm. Don Rickles regularly insulted people, it was his act and everyone knew it was just a joke. Will his videos be taken down from YouTube? This is very important, critical to all political speech as by its nature it is divisive, people have different opinions. Should I be allowed to say that I believe in the death penalty, should I be allowed to say I believe abortion should be legal. Both call for taking a human life (DNA defines your species). Should people in Palestine be allowed to post videos calling for the death of Israel? Should Muslims be allowed to call for taking over countries in the middle east? Should the Klan be able to post videos showing what they believe? Should you be able to read Mein Kampf on line? Should you be able to read books written that supported slavery to understand what logic they followed. "Those who don't remember the past are bound to repeat it".
Who should make these determinations and under what rules? For the moment social media platforms are making the rules for you and they are not consistent.
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