This is now and will become an even hotter topic soon, so it deserves its own thread.
This is now and will become an even hotter topic soon, so it deserves its own thread.
I will start by saying philosophically I have a "balanced" view of the topic in general. On the one hand I support those who have taken the risk and built companies and industries, on the other hand (*) I recognize the value of healthy competition. The telephone industry was a monopoly "Ma Bell" and was broken up. Of course, the ironic thing is the old phone system has been replaced and is practically nonexistent today.
* "on the other hand" is why you will never see a one-hand economist! They couldn't function.
It seems to me, and to others, Apple, Google, Amazon have become monopolies and deserve to be looked at for possible break-ups. We'll see how this all plays out.
Breakups don’t solve anything with these companies. That isn’t the remedy that courts would use. The only company you could really break up into parts is FB, but that would be unprecedented because the government Already approved the merger with Instagram.
As far as “censorship”, these companies will do what they think is best for their business. Being associated with hate or being a platform for the orchestration of violence is not good for business, let alone society. Plus, it leaves these companies exposed to liability, especially if 230 were to be repealed.
And let’s not forget as well that it is the strength of these companies that help give the US competitive advantage relative to our competitors and adversaries, particularly when it comes to the importance of AI.
We all know these companies are guilty of selective censorship. It is politically driven and motivated. Anyone who says differently is either in cahoots with the censors or are ignorant beyond belief.
There appear to be clear RICO Act violations against Parler.
Unfortunately, Biden and his family are crooks, though these pawns in Obama’s world claim naivety, and and thus perfect for the liberals.
1st AMENDMENT UNDER FIRE
Surprise! Biden has ties to 5 major tech companies.
14 advisers have worked for Big Tech firms cracking down on conservatives
Published January 10, 2021 at 8:39pm
Joe Biden has hired at least 14 current or former executives from five major tech firms to serve in his administration or advise his transition team.
The firms — Apple, Google, Amazon, Twitter and Facebook — have all clamped down this week on President Trump and Parler, a social media site popular with conservatives.
Conservatives have long expressed concern over Biden and Democrats’ close ties to the major tech companies.
Apple’s top lobbyist is a longtime Biden adviser. Former executives from Twitter and Facebook are also joining the Biden White House.
At least 14 people who President-elect Joe Biden has picked to serve either in his administration or to advise his transition have worked for the Big Tech firms that cracked down earlier this week on President Donald Trump and a social media site popular with conservatives
Apple’s top lobbyist was a chief adviser to the Biden transition team. A former Facebook executive will serve as staff director in the Biden White House, and a former Twitter executive will serve as chief spokesperson for the National Security Council under Biden.
Current and former executives at those firms and two others, Google and Amazon, fill out other positions in the incoming Biden administration, or his transition team.
The five tech giants all took action this week against Trump and Parler, the social media site, in response to riots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
More
https://www.wnd.com/2021/01/surprise...ech-companies/
I also don't see the connection.
Are we talking about private companies? I don't understand what obligation Facebook has to you or me or anyone. They could kick any of us off tomorrow and become exclusively a company for left-handed, cross-eyed, 6'8" trout fishermen from Vermont if they wanted, right? So what? What do they owe any of us?
Big Tech companies have been holding themselves out as the virtual town square for years. In exchange they received special status and protections.
Now that they want to censor and deny free speech rights in that virtual town square that they have created, it is a First Amendment issue. In addition those companies who have purged accounts are guilty of stealing and misusing personal information of the account holders that have been purged mostly with no advanced notice.
Big Tech can't have it both ways.