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NutmegYankee

(16,200 posts)
Wed Sep 5, 2018, 12:54 PM Sep 2018

Justice Department to consider allegations of censorship on Facebook, Twitter

Source: Washington Post

Attorney General Jeff Sessions plans to meet with state attorneys general later this month to discuss whether tech companies may be "intentionally stifling the free exchange of ideas,” the Justice Department said Wednesday in a statement.

DOJ's announcement comes a week after the White House said it would explore regulating Google — and minutes after senior executives from Facebook and Twitter finished testifying before a Senate panel on the companies' efforts to stem the tide of misinformation on the platforms.

Agency spokesman Devin O'Malley said the meeting will also consider whether tech platforms "may have harmed competition" with their actions, a hint that the Justice Department may be weighing antitrust action against the firms.

This story is developing.


Updated Title/paragraphs to reflect updates to story.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/technology/wp/2018/09/05/justice-department-to-address-whether-tech-companies-may-be-hurting-competition-with-alleged-censorship-on-social-media-platforms/?utm_term=.2f31e7f9003d



And so it begins...
17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Justice Department to consider allegations of censorship on Facebook, Twitter (Original Post) NutmegYankee Sep 2018 OP
What are they going to do, nationalize the internet? The Liberal Lion Sep 2018 #1
No, killing net neutrality stifles the free exchange of ideas. eggplant Sep 2018 #2
Trump Was Involved in FBI Headquarters Plan, Watchdog Says mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2018 #3
Trump trying to "intentionally stifling the free exchange of ideas" every day bucolic_frolic Sep 2018 #4
So what if they are? onenote Sep 2018 #5
Yea, try that. See where it gets you. paleotn Sep 2018 #6
I'm an administrator at a (non-political) forum elsewhere on the internet. mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2018 #7
Anyone want to explain to the morons that the 1st amendment only protects people from the cstanleytech Sep 2018 #8
An anti-trust action by Republicans - hilarious. bitterross Sep 2018 #9
so, the fascist goverment is ok with putin taking over this country, refusing to do anything aboutit elmac Sep 2018 #10
Only one idea getting stifled worries the repugs: 'Are nazis really so bad?' Mc Mike Sep 2018 #11
Oh for fuck's sake, the websites are not public property. X_Digger Sep 2018 #12
Funny how regulating private industry Cal Carpenter Sep 2018 #13
A DOJ "investigation" like this is an unconstitutional effort to intimidate private platforms. mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2018 #14
And right after that maxrandb Sep 2018 #15
Under what law will they prosecute privately owned, and fully globalized companies? apnu Sep 2018 #16
So will Free Republic be forced to allow liberals to post there? NYC Liberal Sep 2018 #17

The Liberal Lion

(1,414 posts)
1. What are they going to do, nationalize the internet?
Wed Sep 5, 2018, 01:06 PM
Sep 2018

These contemptuous sons of bitches ought to be investigating how that orange fuck is stifling the free exchange of ideas via his twitter account. Republicans sicken me to no end.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,516 posts)
3. Trump Was Involved in FBI Headquarters Plan, Watchdog Says
Wed Sep 5, 2018, 01:07 PM
Sep 2018
Trump Was Involved in FBI Headquarters Plan, Watchdog Says

Reply #18: Washington Post: White House role in FBI headquarters plan detailed in watchdog report

David Fahrenthold Retweeted:

FBI HQ is across the street from the Trump Hotel DC. If FBI HQ were relocated, its former property could be redeveloped into something else—like maybe a competing luxury hotel. (Article by @OConnellPostbiz for @washingtonpost.)



bucolic_frolic

(43,206 posts)
4. Trump trying to "intentionally stifling the free exchange of ideas" every day
Wed Sep 5, 2018, 01:09 PM
Sep 2018

'Crooked NBC!!! Rigged against me!! I alone can save it!!'

onenote

(42,715 posts)
5. So what if they are?
Wed Sep 5, 2018, 01:10 PM
Sep 2018

Where is written in the law that private companies can't stifle the free exchange of ideas? Someone at DOJ should go back and read the Supreme Court's decision in PG&E v. Public Utilities Commission.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,516 posts)
7. I'm an administrator at a (non-political) forum elsewhere on the internet.
Wed Sep 5, 2018, 01:18 PM
Sep 2018

Spammers get all the free speech I say they can have. Which is not much.

cstanleytech

(26,300 posts)
8. Anyone want to explain to the morons that the 1st amendment only protects people from the
Wed Sep 5, 2018, 02:18 PM
Sep 2018

government interfering in free speech it does not however provide us with protection from companies deciding to censor us.

 

bitterross

(4,066 posts)
9. An anti-trust action by Republicans - hilarious.
Wed Sep 5, 2018, 02:29 PM
Sep 2018

I feel very confident Sessions will be out of office long before he has a chance to file any suit. The State AGs had better be careful what they wish for. They might end up setting some precedents that are not favorable to corporations. That will stem the flow of their campaign dollars.

 

elmac

(4,642 posts)
10. so, the fascist goverment is ok with putin taking over this country, refusing to do anything aboutit
Wed Sep 5, 2018, 02:35 PM
Sep 2018

but boy are they going after corporations trying to stop the overthrow of ameriKa.

X_Digger

(18,585 posts)
12. Oh for fuck's sake, the websites are not public property.
Wed Sep 5, 2018, 05:08 PM
Sep 2018

They can do whatever the fuck they like with their own websites. You have no expectation of free speech in someone else's house. I can tell you that if you're a christian, you can't pray in my house. I can tell you that if you're a republican, get the fuck off my property.

My house (or website), my rules.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,516 posts)
14. A DOJ "investigation" like this is an unconstitutional effort to intimidate private platforms.
Thu Sep 6, 2018, 12:44 PM
Sep 2018
TreasonHat Retweeted:

A DOJ “investigation” like this is an unconstitutional effort to intimidate private platforms. Bantam Books v. Sullivan. The platforms have the First Amendment right not to host certain speech. W. Va. v. Barnette. There is no 1A right to be on a private platform.


maxrandb

(15,336 posts)
15. And right after that
Fri Sep 7, 2018, 09:42 AM
Sep 2018

they'll hold hearings about Hate-Radio and Faux News and "investigate" them for "bias"

I swear they will....

apnu

(8,758 posts)
16. Under what law will they prosecute privately owned, and fully globalized companies?
Fri Sep 7, 2018, 10:17 AM
Sep 2018

This is more Republican hypocrisy. They're all for personal freedom, until it inconveniences them, then they put on their fascist hats. For decades they've lectured us about how the government needs to get out of the way of business and that the free market will take care of everything. How is this letting the free market of ideas sort itself out?

If Facebook, Twitter, Google and all are engaging in censorship, there are plenty of other platforms to use out there. Plus with the deep pocket funding the Republican party, why don't those soaring minds of entrepreneurship and industry funding competitive alternatives to those godless liberal companies?

NYC Liberal

(20,136 posts)
17. So will Free Republic be forced to allow liberals to post there?
Fri Sep 7, 2018, 10:52 AM
Sep 2018

Will Infowars have to allow competing opinions on their forum?

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