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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTexas passes social media 'de-platforming' law
Source: BBC
10 September 2021
The US state of Texas has made it illegal for social media platforms to ban users "based on their political viewpoints".
Prominent Republican politicians have accused Facebook, Twitter and others of censoring conservative views.
Former US president Donald Trump was banned from Facebook and Twitter after a group of his supporters attacked the Capitol in January.
The social networks have all denied stifling conservative views.
However, they do enforce terms of service which prohibit content such as incitement to violence and co-ordinated disinformation.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58516155
Scrivener7
(50,949 posts)PSPS
(13,594 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,001 posts)GQP loves corporations and has fought to enlarge their "rights" -- "personhood" and all.
Corporations can serve anybody they want to or not if it is not based on race, skin colour, religion etc. Political beliefs are not granted special status.
If it is a monopoly like Facebook, they have to be more careful how they operate. But the basic principle applies.
So the criteria in the legislation is not an issue. It is not happening and even if it were it would be okay.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,001 posts)PSPS
(13,594 posts)Hugin
(33,135 posts)I lean toward 'flagrantly' in this instance.
Hugin
(33,135 posts)Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)dalton99a
(81,475 posts)MagickMuffin
(15,937 posts)So, if these entities have terms of service that prohibit certain content then I hope this "law" will get challenged.
My state keeps getting more absurd by the day.
Hugin
(33,135 posts)Which made them private entities outside of the broadcast regulations governed by the FCC.
I don't remember the guy's name, but, he held a virtual monopoly on cable television in the late '70s, early '80s. He eventually was successful in lobbying to get satellite tv under the exclusion.
Boy, I bet they're missing the so-called fairness doctrine right now.
Once again, a big fat Sharpie line can be drawn between this stupid law and TFG. He's been burning up the phone lines and he expects his installees on the SCOTUS to bend to his will. As he sees it, they owe him. In the mafia sense.
Beastly Boy
(9,326 posts)Unless prominent Republican politicians who were banned by social media claim that lying their asses off is a "political platform".
I would loooove to see how this plays out in court!
Mad_Machine76
(24,412 posts)I see plenty of Democrats and Republicans on there. Where people get in trouble of course is when they advocate violence, law-breaking, and disinformation, none of which are "political viewpoints". I mean, Abbott doesn't want actual NAZIs free-roaming social media, does he?
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)That's pretty much his schtick.
Mad_Machine76
(24,412 posts)I would point out, however, that, people are still getting banned on every single right-wing "alternative" social media platform that has been created. So, really, you *can* end up being too extreme even for these alternatives.
In It to Win It
(8,248 posts)HAB911
(8,891 posts)problem solved
Andy823
(11,495 posts)this is all being "directed" by trump, and if the don't do what he wants, they don't get his endorsement. Most republican leaders are just too stupid these days to figure out trump is in this for himself, and he could care less about them.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Blatantly unconstitutional. Abattoir is on a path to self-immolation and perpetual ridicule.
Javaman
(62,527 posts)as I have been saying: texas: the only fascist state in the union.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Javaman
(62,527 posts)I guess it's just a matter of degrees.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,175 posts)(like the Texas power grid), isolate it to operate only in Texas, and you'll have complete control over the companies that will operate entirely within Texas.
Until then, Greg, blow it out your ass. (If that isn't a legal term, it should be.)