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Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by quotemstr on Friday August 28, 2020 @10:58AM (#24305668)
The danger here is viewpoint based discrimination. It should be illegal for a big platform to shut down certain points of view when these points of view are legal and expressed in a normal manner. You can shut down spam without harming the principle of free expression because you can express any idea in a way that isn't spam.

The law gives you a legitimate and stable line that you can draw between allowed and disallowed speech. It's fine for a platform to censor what's illegal, because in a sense, we all agree on the law and have a say in its content. But we have no say in big tech content policy, and that's what makes it illegitimate.

My basic point is that it's infuriating and wrong for big tech to impose its values on the public. A public space that's privately owned is still a public space. A free society is one where you don't get barred from public spaces because of your opinions.

Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by krapp on Friday August 28, 2020 @11:17AM (#24305869)
> It should be illegal for a big platform to shut down certain points of view when these points of view are legal and expressed in a normal manner.

Platforms aren't public venues, they're private businesses offering access to a service under terms that serve their interests and business needs first and foremost... terms that everyone agreed to before being able to use the platform.

>The law gives you a legitimate and stable line that you can draw between allowed and disallowed speech. It's fine for a platform to censor what's illegal, because in a sense, we all agree on the law and have a say in its content. But we have no say in big tech content policy, and that's what makes it illegitimate.

The law also allows for private ownership of businesses, contracts and freedom of association. The law says Google's platform is Google's property and Google can do whatever it darn well likes with it.

>You can shut down spam without harming the principle of free expression because you can express any idea in a way that isn't spam.

Who gets to define what spam is? Free expression isn't free if someone has the ability to define any arbitrary speech they don't like as "spam" and censor it. All of the slippery slope arguments applied to censorship of any other form of speech also apply to spam.

Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by Mxs2000 on Friday August 28, 2020 @12:23PM (#24306755)
Given that they are not operating as neutral public venues then they should also not be afforded protection under Section 230. If they actively moderate they should be fully liable.
Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by amanaplanacanal on Friday August 28, 2020 @01:06PM (#24307283)
The very point of section 230 was to protect companies even if they did moderate. What you are suggesting is that section 230 should be repealed, and let the courts sort it all out.
Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by krapp on Friday August 28, 2020 @12:50PM (#24307068)
IANAL but I've seen enough controversy around this to mention that not everyone agrees with that interpretation of 230 or its ramifications.
Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by mikecoles on Friday August 28, 2020 @01:18PM (#24307432)
It's a shame they don't bake cakes.
Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by jakelazaroff on Friday August 28, 2020 @11:17AM (#24305868)
Why should e.g. hate speech be allowed but not spam? Spam is perfectly legal.

You’re not actually against lines being drawn through legal speech — you just don’t like where they fall.

Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by yjftsjthsd-h on Friday August 28, 2020 @11:50AM (#24306314)
> Spam is perfectly legal

That's a somewhat bold claim. At minimum, CAN-SPAM makes the worst of it illegal.

Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by jakelazaroff on Friday August 28, 2020 @12:04PM (#24306523)
CAN-SPAM only covers email [1]:

> [An Act] To regulate interstate commerce by imposing limitations and penalties on the trans-mission of unsolicited commercial electronic mail via the Internet.

[1] https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cases/2007...

Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by thu2111 on Friday August 28, 2020 @11:51AM (#24306328)
Spam is made illegal in America via the CAN-SPAM act.
Re:Google is apparently taking down all/most Fediverse apps ... by jakelazaroff on Friday August 28, 2020 @12:04PM (#24306531)
CAN-SPAM only covers email; see sibling comment.