News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Big Tech are supposed to be the plumbers, not patricians of internet discourse. Parent comment

Re:Big Tech are supposed to be the plumbers, not patricians ... by bumby on Sunday August 08, 2021 @08:42PM (#28111583)
Some societies have limits on these votes as a means to prevent the tyranny of the majority.

In the U.S. the Bill of Rights outlines specific rights that cannot be infringed, including the freedom of speech. Now, this amendment could technically be repealed but that is a very high bar since it’s considered a fundamental right by which the others are derived.

Edit: downvotes are fine but at least add to the discussion. I would be interested in hearing what parts you think I’m not interpreting correctly

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Big Tech are supposed to be the plumbers, not patricians ... by WalterBright on Sunday August 08, 2021 @09:00PM (#28111680)
I've come to conclude that the right to free speech is the most important right in the Constitution.

The reason is straightforward - without free speech, nobody would know if/when the government is abusing any of your other rights.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Big Tech are supposed to be the plumbers, not patricians ... by emodendroket on Sunday August 08, 2021 @10:40PM (#28112221)
In Manufacturing Consent, Chomsky and Hermann argue that the American system of propaganda is more effective than the Soviet one, precisely because there is no commissar explicitly telling you what you can and can't say or any other kind of overt and explicit censorship, making people blind to the possibility that they could possibly be being manipulated.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Big Tech are supposed to be the plumbers, not patricians ... by kfprt on Sunday August 08, 2021 @10:39PM (#28112212)
Freedom of speech is a natural right that just so happens to be enshrined in the constitution. It's very disturbing to see how modern discourse ignores the existence of natural rights. I don't see how the 1st amendment is a tenable position anymore when the government is now actively censoring by proxy. https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/563547-hypocritical-...
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Big Tech are supposed to be the plumbers, not patricians ... by emodendroket on Sunday August 08, 2021 @10:41PM (#28112229)
Well, probably the first time these were flagrantly violated was with the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.
[ Parent | on HN ]