Re:YouTube has deleted the account of David Icke
by SpelingBeeChamp on Monday May 04, 2020 @04:27AM
(#23065706)
>Yes, we have to hold YouTube to higher standards than others simply because of the disproportionate power the platform has.
That's rather conclusory.
Re:YouTube has deleted the account of David Icke
by close04 on Monday May 04, 2020 @05:42AM
(#23066096)
Well there are 2 aspects for this. Laws in general consider magnitude and criticality when defining measures. So would a judge. YouTube's reach implicitly means the potential for abuse is orders of magnitude higher. And the effects of that abuse are far more dangerous than what a small platform can induce.
The other part, the one I was mostly referring to, is moral. I know, it's a company, it doesn't need to have morals. But this shouldn't stop people from holding them to a higher standard.
With a flip of the algorithmic switch platforms like YouTube or Facebook can influence results of elections, escalate social issues over the tipping point, etc. Can you honestly say that my conclusion needed too much explaining?
People constantly misunderstand "freedom of speech" as something that somehow entitles one to trample over someone else's freedom.
For example every time there's a discussion about "hate speech" someone will say that the laws are routinely abused to punish people for their legitimate free opinions. Yet no such examples of routine abuse are ever given. There's room for common sense when judging a situation. Common sense can't be put in law but you also can't really judge these gray areas without it.