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A comment on The Silicon Oligarchy. Parent comment

Re:The Silicon Oligarchy by zwirbl on Friday June 19, 2020 @05:20AM (#23572686)
Do rules not apply to US presidents?
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Re:The Silicon Oligarchy by leereeves on Friday June 19, 2020 @05:32AM (#23572739)
In much the same way that even laws do not apply to anything said in Congress, because the power to control political debate is the power to control government.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_or_Debate_Clause

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Re:The Silicon Oligarchy by EdwardDiego on Friday June 19, 2020 @05:42AM (#23572786)
Except wasn't that clause to stop the Executive Branch (and anyone else) from using the machinery of the state to interfere with Congress? Not really about freedom of speech, rather keeping Congress independent from outside control.

A lot of former British colonies have the same principle, dating from 1688/1689: https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-...

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Re:The Silicon Oligarchy by leereeves on Friday June 19, 2020 @05:54AM (#23572865)
> keeping Congress independent from outside control.

Exactly what's at stake here. Keeping the government independent from outside control by those who happen to control the means of communication.

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Re:The Silicon Oligarchy by alwayseasy on Friday June 19, 2020 @07:16AM (#23573221)
Facebook is not "the means of communication" comparable to Congress. It's a private company that can control the types of ads it runs.
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