Facebook allowed 650,000 posts attacking the 2020 election prior to the Capital domestic terror attack according to a new report from ProPublica and the Washinton Post. The posts occurred between election day and January 6…averaging 10,000 posts per day.
Yet, Facebook downplayed their role in fermenting this violent fascist content designed to nullify the peaceful transfer of power to the duly elected President of the United States.
I say, BREAK THEM UP NOW! They are an unregulated monopoly that presents a clear and present danger to the domestic tranquility of this wounded democracy teetering on the brink of extinction.
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I think it’s a mistake to target Facebook while leaving the other media monopolies untouched.
A more immediate move is to repeal the exemption that currently shields every social media publisher from liability for online content. This exemption has always applied to print media — the prevailing standard for print media is whether or not the publisher has editorial control over content. “Editorial control” means that the publisher is able to selectively edit or suppress specific items.
The “editorial control” standard means, for example, that the New York Times can be sued for damages by an advertiser if an advertisement for an “adult” movie appears on the same page as the plaintiff’s ad. The plaintiff is able to claim that the movie ad harmed the plaintiff by causing potential customers to believe that the plaintiff endorsed or supported the adult move.
The result of that standard was that no X-rated movies were ever even listed in the New York Times — the paper determined that it was better to avoid their legal exposure altogether by simply banning advertising for adult content.
While I abhor the monopolistic practices of “Meta” (the new name for the media empire of Mr. Zuckerberg), I believe that several other players are as bad or worse. It does not make sense to target Meta without also targeting “Alpha” (the new corporate name for Google), Microsoft, and at least Fox News. Twitter is arguably just as culpable.
The sad truth is that ALL media companies profit from hostility, rage, and hate MUCH MORE than from reality and truth. In an economy where all media content is provided by private profit-driven entities, the abuses of Facebook will recur again and again.
A better path forward is to re-impose the provision of the Fairness Doctrine, remove special exemptions that social media companies now enjoy, and re-impose strict restraints on how much of a given market any one corporate player can control.
At very least they should more aggressively police content. I’m pretty absolutist when it comes to free speech, both in terms of what is said to begin with and the editorial control over what remains posted, but every once in a while, I report a comment to FB as over-the-line hate speech and am consistently told it’s been reviewed and does not violate their standards.
As for other social media, I don’t usually speak in these terms, but I am increasingly convinced that there is no other way to describe Tik Tok than the work of the Devil. Every time I hear about it, it seems someone is using video with no context to make someone’s life miserable or to promulgate some new challenge that is dangerous for kids.
Nancy Pelosi discloses her husband spent $5.52 million on Amazon, Facebook stock | Markets Insider (businessinsider.com)
Not much chance that anything will happen to facebook, Fred.
Oh, yes. I’m sure that’s why.
On a more serious note, members of Congress should have their investment in stocks scrutinized closely.
A solution in the passive voice–sounds serious to me.
Bob, you crack me up! Seriously though – you’re often the lone voice of reason on this site. I wanted to connect with you on FB but there are a few Bob Gardner’s out there. I’m the only Betsey (with that spelling) in Maynard, so feel free to connect with me! We crazy leftist Bernie bro BG’s need to stick together! 😉
I have no idea why we are in this cul-de-sac of discussing congressional stock portfolios. But I know one thing.
Fred Rich Lariccia’s point is, as is wont to happen, being desperately sidelined here with relative policy minutia.
But, as usual, Fred is focusing on what actually matters, and Fred’s clarion calls should be heeded.
The point is that Facebook is a publisher. This publisher, Facebook, has been a menace to our democracy. Facebook’s public marketing on the matter has been an Orwellian disgrace.
What, dear readers, was Fred’s point?
Break Facebook up; make Facebook accountable to our civil legal suits – the American way of legal accountability; and, finally, end the dystopian monopoly that we should now all acknowledge, is Facebook.
Great news! CNN Business just reported that a federal judge just REJECTED Facebook’s request to dismiss FTC antitrust complaint TODAY!
There are two ways to look at this. Cheerleading, or “Follow the money”. The latter seems to be the more serious approach to me.