Wall Street Journal: When Digital Platforms Become Censors

Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit has a new article up on internet freedom and digital platform censorship by leftwing gatekeepers in The Wall Street Journal:

“Call 2018 the “Year of Deplatforming.” The internet was once celebrated for allowing fresh new voices to escape the control of gatekeepers. But this year, the internet giants decided to slam the gates on a number of people and ideas they don’t like. If you rely on someone else’s platform to express unpopular ideas, especially ideas on the right, you’re now at risk. This raises troubling questions, not only for free speech but for the future of American politics and media. …

If internet megaplatforms like YouTube and Facebook were publishers, none of this would be especially problematic. One of the essential duties of a publisher is deciding what to publish and what not to publish. The Supreme Court has even held, in Miami Herald v. Tornillo (1974), that the law can’t compel newspapers to print replies to their articles, because it would interfere with their choice of what to publish.

But internet platforms don’t want to be treated as publishers, because publishers are also responsible for their decisions. If a newspaper publishes a libelous story, it can be sued. If it infringes someone’s copyright, it can be held liable for damages. And everything it chooses to publish or not to publish is a reflection on its reputation.

Today, the big internet companies are treated not as publishers but as conduits—tools that other people use to spread their own ideas. That’s why the “safe harbor provision” of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, a landmark in internet regulation, states that platforms aren’t legally responsible for what other people publish on their sites. The law was originally intended to protect things like newspaper comment sections, but its application has become very broad, encompassing virtually all of the content on social media and sharing sites. …”

The notion that Silicon Valley megabillionaires are actively limiting what ordinary Americans can talk and write about is likely to produce a backlash. The tech industry’s image has already suffered over revelations about Facebook’s experiments aimed at manipulating users’ newsfeeds to test their emotional states, as well as various cases of invasion of privacy and data mishandling. Twenty years ago, most Americans saw Silicon Valley as liberating; now it seems to have gone from the hammer-wielding woman in that famous “1984” Apple commercial to the Big Brother figure up on the screen.

The Alt-Right was a canary in the coalmine.

The Antifa tactic of “deplatforming” has now gone far beyond targeting marginal Neo-Nazi groups. It has been adopted by “journalists” at CNN and Newsweek who are pressuring Big Tech to silence their conservative and libertarian enemies. Some of these journalists work so closely with Antifa now that we are unable to tell the difference betweeen them.

In today’s news:

– The ADL is celebrating PayPal deplatforming former Republican Senate candidate Patrick Little.

– Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch was interviewed about being deplatformed by Patreon at the request of Mastercard.

– PragerU, which is a sort of neocon educational group that makes videos, has been wiped out by shadow banning on YouTube and Facebook.

– Facebook and Twitter are censoring political ads of another Republican congressional candidate in California.

– Caitlin Johnstone, an antiwar activist, has been purged from Twitter for calling John McCain a warmonger and rejoicing over his imminent death.

Halsey English, who is known for arguing with the Alt-Right, has been purged from Twitter:

Are a handful of unaccountable multinational corporations in San Francisco going to get away with censoring the internet on behalf of the ADL and SPLC? We will see.

About Hunter Wallace 12390 Articles
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Occidental Dissent

4 Comments

  1. “Are a handful of unaccountable multinational corporations in San Francisco going to get away with censoring the internet on behalf of the ADL and SPLC?”

    The Jews have always sought to control information, even within the Roman Empire and earlier Greek city-states. In later Centuries, they sought control of technology, as well. Naturally, they’ve gained, or are gaining, control of the electronic means of processing and disseminating information.

    Unsurprisingly, the Information Technology industry, which includes telecommunications, (radio, T.V. telephone, etc), and newspapers and publishing, is infested with Jews.
    There’s plenty of money to be made, and they can keep the Goyim from knowing too much at the same time, as well.

    Keeping the Goyem from being able to move about freely, by controlling and limiting their transportation possibilities, or being able to speak freely with one another, even at Continental and intercontinental distances, prevents pogroms. It’s Goy control.

    As an aside, it’s not just a matter of removing the Jews from power, it’s also the Shabbos Goyem and the numerous others who have been corrupted by them, as well. In other words, residual Jewishness needs to be removed as well.

  2. 1. They are so afraid that the goyim will learn what is going on that they are blocking access. The very act of exposure is a threat to them. Time to press ahead.

    2. Jared Taylor’s case has merit and he will probably win. DMCA is another promising avenue. Neither will matter if some state of emergency can be declared and law suspended. These censorious acts are stalling tactics in hope of favorable electoral results, but if that fails, more desperate attempts will follow.

  3. WSJ and “conservatives” didn’t give a damn about “white supremacists”, “racists”, “neo-Nazis”, etc. getting censored or shut down. It’s a different story now that the anti-free speech crowd is after them.

  4. It is the media lord jews , who want to shut down – “ all unwashed detestable people “ .

    JESUS CHRIST “ is not “ a jew , and He “ does not “ approve , of the so called judeo – christian zionists . JESUS IS A PURE BLOOD – WHITE HEBREW ISRAELITE . ( HE IS OUR GOD AND NEAR KINSMAN . All Real And True Hebrews – are White-Men . However , “ not “ all white appearing men , are real & true Hebrews . ) JESUS is a direct descendant , from The Patriarch Judah ( The Son of Jacob , The Son of Isaac , The Son of Abraham ) , by His pure blood mother Mary ; JESUS IS A PURE BLOOD – WHITE JUDAHITE . On the other hand , a jew is a mix blooded – alien foreigner – a literal bastard : by illegitimate intermarriage and misbegotten progeny . ( According to The Old Testament , The True Hebraic , The Mosaic Law : concerning forbidden miscegenation . )

    JESUS CHRIST was born by a virgin , in Bethlehem . His conception was a miracle – by THE GIFT AND POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST . He is THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF THE FATHER , singularly born , by and in , such a manner . He grew up , in the village of Nazareth , in the region of Galilee . Thus , His recognized identity , was and is , THE NAZARENE MAN FROM GALILEE – THE GALILEAN . ( On the other hand , the jew is named after , and for , and comes from – Jerusalem / Judea )

    The religion that JESUS CHRIST adhered to , was The Mosaic Law of Moses , as found today , in The Old Testament of THE HOLY BIBLE . He was and is , THE ONLY ONE , that could and did and does , keep The Law perfectly – with purity . After He died for us , and then resurrected , JESUS instituted THE NEW TESTAMENT GOSPEL : He offered Conditional Reconciliation ( if an individual will choose it ) , for All Mankind , to find GOD – so receiving Mercy and Future Glory , by Faith in JESUS and Repentance and Reformation .

    On the other hand , the jews were His arch enemies – all throughout His ministry . The pharisees corrupted The Mosaic Law , and made it into “ judaism “ – with their mysticism & magic & traditions of men . JESUS confronted the money changers – trading & selling at their tables , in front of and within , HIS – GOD’S HOUSE AND HOLY TEMPLE . He overthrew and ruined , their evil business . In revenge , they conspired and accomplished , the crucifixion of THE SON OF GOD . The jews used the Romans , as their agents and instruments , for their murder of THE MESSIAH . The jews gladly claimed , their own responsibility – for the bloody killing . ( Matthew 27 : 24 – 25 , THE HOLY BIBLE , kjv . ) The jews ( as a group ) , were then and are today , GOD’S most implacable , hate filled enemies – and JESUS hates them back . GOD Himself say’s : “ Jacob have I loved “ , and then He say’s , “ esau “ ( another name for the jew ) “ have I hated “ . ( Romans 9 : 13 , THB , kjv . )

    THE “ I AM “ – JEHOVAH OF THE OLD TESTAMENT , IS THE GOD/MAN – JESUS CHRIST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT . GOD’S TRUTHS ARE HOLY RIDDLES – that need to be searched out – and found – to be appreciated and cherished and judiciously shared .

    There is much more to tell , on this subject , and the more the telling – the more compelling , the case for the truth , and a corresponding growing gratefulness , by wonderful understanding .

    JESUS “ is absolutely not “ , a jew by His lineage . JESUS “ is absolutely not “ , a jew by His childhood residence , nor by the primary locality – of His mission activity . JESUS “ is absolutely not “ , a jew by His religion .

    The jew is a mixed blooded – alien foreigner – a literal bastard : by illegitimate intermarriage and misbegotten progeny . ( According to The Old Testament , The True Hebraic , The Mosaic Law : concerning forbidden miscegenation . ) The jews took over the office’s of : ( The King & The Temple High Priest & The Sanhedrin ) , by spiritual philosophy , and actual infiltration ; in the cosmopolitain – Jerusalem of Judea . Their impure bloodlines , of direct descent , come from “ the serpent seed men “ – that wicked brood of vipers & traitors : cain – ham – canaan – ishmael – esau – and many others . For that “ kosher mafia “ , Salvation is still just possible ( withal not likely ) , for separating individuals , who surrender to , and who live by faith upon , THE LORD JESUS CHRIST . Nevertheless , judaism is the world’s , leading “ secret combination “ – against THE TRUE GOD . It is already cursed , to a black doom , and destined for , an ultimate oblivion , and will be finally given over , to the fires of hell .

    JESUS CHRIST “ is absolutely not “ a jew , and He will ultimately fully reject , all judeo – christian zionists , whom persist , in their shameful & guilty – delusions & sins . Their souls are being stolen , by connivance and by deception and by sophistry . They have the blood iniquity , of shared responsibility , for supporting all the violence and injustice , that the jews perpetrate . Turn away from , “ The False Prosperity Gospels “ – who’s promise is , a fool’s reward . Rather yet – stand on , GOD’S right side , to solely seek , purity and perfection – through only , THE LORD JESUS CHRIST – by His merits alone . Pray to GOD to obtain – THE GIFT AND POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST .

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