Re:Judge rules White House pressured social networks to “sup...
by mrangle on Thursday July 06, 2023 @04:37PM
(#36622592)
Below, I further frame the argument against the false-assertion that the government has free speech protections under the Constitution.
The government is specifically restricted by the Constitution in order to convey Rights to citizens.
Just as the FBI does not have Constitutionally protected free speech rights to request censorship of citizens, no matter how politely requested, the FBI can not legally "request of you" to report to prison for five years in the absence of being convicted of a crime.
As any such request carries the presumption of force.
This restriction protects the Constitutionally protected Rights of citizens.
I can request that you report to prison. That is protected speech. I can request that speech be censored. That is protected speech.
The government is not an individual with Constitutional Rights. It is the entity that the Constitution exists to protect individuals against.
The government is specifically restricted by the Constitution in order to convey Rights to citizens.
Just as the FBI does not have Constitutionally protected free speech rights to request censorship of citizens, no matter how politely requested, the FBI can not legally "request of you" to report to prison for five years in the absence of being convicted of a crime.
As any such request carries the presumption of force.
This restriction protects the Constitutionally protected Rights of citizens.
I can request that you report to prison. That is protected speech. I can request that speech be censored. That is protected speech.
The government is not an individual with Constitutional Rights. It is the entity that the Constitution exists to protect individuals against.