Well, the problem with no regulation at all is that you get corporations behaving badly. There are so many examples of this that it's virtually axiomatic now. I'm a Capitalist, so I believe in mostly leaving corporations alone, except when it comes to ensuring we enforce the law, reduction of fraud, and leveling the playing field by busting monopolies. But free speech is a whole different thing. It is so absolutely critical to maintaining freedom of the people and their ability to ensure that our government is held in check, that we have to make sure every aspect of our society is built and regulated to ensure the free flow of information without censorship. It's free speech is to freedom and democracy like water is to a human being.
Having said that, Google and Facebook can no longer simply be considered typical corporations. Both have virtual monopolies in only dissemination of information, especially political information. And they have demonstrated clear bias in their leadership and in their employees. The world gets its news from Google in particular, but also from Facebook news feeds. And yet, what you see in your searches is up to them. If they want to engage in a disinformation campaign, they can do that legally right now and few would be the wiser. That is a shitload of power to grant to one company. Propaganda is the essence of tyranny.
Until we pass a law and create a regulatory body that ensures the free flow of information, no matter if it is information that some of us don't like, not just our freedom of speech, but our freedom itself will be at grave risk. Political processes need transparency, the light of day, and free flow of information, because political processes are so inherently subject to corruption. The smallest bit of manipulation or opacity breeds corruption in politics. That's why this issue is so important. I have a feeling if we had a dignified President, like Romney or Obama saying this right now, everyone would be agreeing that something needs to be done. The reason why you and others are opposing action is only because it is despicable Trump who is saying it. But in this case, as in many others, he's right, but since he's the shittiest of messengers, everyone wants to oppose him just because it's him.
It's like Peter Thiel said, "I'll take a rude truth teller over a polite liar any day." |
