I don’t believe that Twitter has violated President Trump’s freedom of speech by deleting his Twitter feed or that Amazon has violated Parler’s or its customers’ freedom of speech by canceling the company’s AWS contract.
I think there’s a much better case that Amazon has engaged in tortious interference with respect to Parler as well as illegal monopoly activities. It will be interesting to see how Parler’s case plays out.
Dont know all of the particulars but did read that Parler had been asked multiple times to monitor itself for calls to violence, threatening speech, etc. They had reportedly not complied. Parler also had abysmal security. Dont know if that also broke its agreement with Amazon.
Query- Dont follow IT as much as I should but if they had repealed 230 wouldnt Amazon have then been responsible for calls for violence on Parler?
Steve
Corporations now take it upon themselves to regulate the private lives of their employees and customers. I think it is clear that the 1st Amendment has to be imposed on private corporations. There was a time in living memory when it did not apply to the States. I’m sure some clever judge can find a way to impose it on corporations.
The 1st should be imposed on private colleges, too. It is especially important that private colleges adhere to the 1st because they are filled with highly imitative and conformist young people who enthusiastically impose uniform ideas and dress codes. Or haven’t you noticed just how conformist students are, especially in dress?
Don’t tell me the corporations can do as they please because they are private, not public. That argument is utterly specious.
“I think there’s a much better case that Amazon has engaged in tortious interference with respect to Parler as well as illegal monopoly activities.”
Its almost the very definition. A selective restraint of trade case, which we won once, also comes to mind.
“Don’t know all of the particulars but did read that Parler had been asked multiple times to monitor itself for calls to violence, threatening speech, etc.”
June, 2020:
A right-wing social media app that’s billed itself as a “free speech†alternative to Twitter is quickly proving itself to be even more restrictive than the alternative apps its users routinely accuse of censorship.
Parler, which reportedly gained a half-million new users this month, banned a slew of people over the weekend, prompting CEO John Matze to clarify that a “few basic rules†will be enforced across the platform. Incidentally, four out of the five items listed by Matza, while prohibited on Parler, are more or less allowed on Twitter. These include pornographic images, usernames containing “obscene†words, and repeatedly responding to people “with unrelated comments like ‘Fuck you’ in every comment.â€
“Your Username cannot be obscene like ‘CumDumpster,’†Matze wrote, adding that telling people “Fuck you,†was “stupid.†“It’s pointless, Grow up,†he said. Matze also said that photos of poop “WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.â€
Matze’s rules were quickly ridiculed on Twitter, which does not prohibit the use of swear words, such as “fuck,†“shit,†“bitch,†“cocksucker,†or “ass.†Twitter also has no rules against consensually produced adult content, e.g., dicks or tits.
But thanks for your usual tripe, steve.
No one really cares if someone says fuck online, but thanks for changing the subject. This is what they worry about.
January 12:
In a court filing late Tuesday, Amazon said it booted right-wing social network Parler from its AWS cloud service after flagging dozens of pieces of violent content starting in November.
Why it matters: Parler is suing Amazon, saying its expulsion violates antitrust laws. In its response, Amazon cites the violent content as well as its protection under section 230 of the Communications Decency Act among its defenses.
Details: Amazon said it first sent a letter on Nov. 17 with two examples of violent content and asked the company if such content violated Parler’s rules and what the company was doing to moderate such content.
Over the next 7 weeks, Amazon said it flagged more than 100 pieces of content to Parler’s chief policy officer, including threats directed specifically at members of Congress.
The big picture: Parler has found itself on the outs with nearly all its technology partners, including Twilio and Amazon, as well as Apple and Google, which have both removed the Parler app from their respective app stores.
What they’re saying: In its lawsuit, Parler argued that Amazon conspired with Twitter to kneecap the service just as it was gaining traction.
Amazon responded that its actions were not about “suppressing speech or stifling viewpoints,” nor about “a conspiracy to restrain trade.”
Rather, Amazon said in the filing, “this case is about Parler’s demonstrated unwillingness and inability to remove from the servers of Amazon Web Services content that threatens the public safety, such as by inciting and planning the rape, torture, and assassination of named public officials and private citizens.”
Steve
Some of the stuff posted on Parler that Amazon did not like. Oddly enough Amazon didnt complain about any bad language like Drew tried to assert.
“We are going to fight in a civil War on Jan.20th, Form MILITIAS now and acquire targets.â€
“On January 20th we need to start systematicly [sic] assassinating [sic] #liberal leaders, liberal activists, #blm leaders and supporters, members of the #nba #nfl #mlb #nhl #mainstreammedia anchors and correspondents and #antifa. I already have a news worthy event planned.â€
“Shoot the police that protect these shitbag senators right in the head then make the senator grovel a bit before capping they ass.â€
“After the firing squads are done with the politicians the teachers are next.â€
“White people need to ignite their racial identity and rain down suffering and death like a hurricane upon zionists.â€
“We need to act like our forefathers did Kill [Black and Jewish people] all Leave no victims or survivors.â€
“Hang this mofo [Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger] today.â€
“HANG THAt N***** ASAPâ€
Steve