Comment on X's Objection to the Onion Buying InfoWars Is a Reminder You Do Not Own Your Social Media Accounts
InevitableList@beehaw.org 3 weeks ago
It’s interesting that this is happening to Info Wars after the tech companies conspired to destroy it and Alex Jones’ career by simultaneously banning it from all their problems at once. As I said at the time; it is very concerning that the tech companies could deny a business access to their platforms without proving their case in front of a neutral 3rd party, without offering their target a chance to defend themselves and without any oppourtunity to appeal their decision.
It was very difficult to say anything in defense of Alex Jones, even in the abstract, so they were able to set this precedent with ease.
tangentism@beehaw.org 3 weeks ago
This is a ludicrous position. He/infowars broke their ToC so they acted accordingly. If anything, they were incredibly lenient in not banning all the accounts prior to when they did.
You’ve also alluded that there’s some kind of conspiracy against Jones by those companies…
By using Hanlons Razor, I would posit that they acted at the last moment before it would blow back on them. The controversy surrounding the guy/company would have generated traffic/clicks/revenue and they wouldn’t cut that off unless there were something that would negatively impact their future revenue.
No company acts out of others interests unless it has some effect on their own, thinking otherwise is just naive.
InevitableList@beehaw.org 3 weeks ago
I misspoke in my previous post. The tech companies conspired to act simultaneously when they banned Alex Jones to minimise the blow-back they’d suffer from his fans. Destroying his business/ career was a byproduct.
How do we know that? Did they make their case in front of a neutral 3rd party? Did Jones have the oppourtunity to defend himself or appeal any decisions? No. If 20 gov’ts announced that Facebook broke their laws and its license will be suspended tomorrow Zuckerberg doesn’t just have to suck it up. He can go to court and appeal that decision. He’d even be allowed to continue operations whilst the case was pending as Uber, which is guilty of breaking numerous laws, did in London.
This bootlicking for the robber barons that dominate society is ridiculous. “It’s only oppression if it’s done by the gooburmint!” he said with Apple’s boot on his neck.
miracleorange@beehaw.org 3 weeks ago
Your complaint is really just a symptom of the problems inherent in the centralization of the internet. The terms of service of basically all tech platforms gives them unilateral control of how those terms are enforced. If one doesn’t like the terms of service set on a given platform, one should not use said platform.
I tend not to agree with them, so I don’t use them. Others should probably do the same.
InevitableList@beehaw.org 3 weeks ago
That’s an immature argument. “If you don’t like guns don’t buy one.” “If you don’t like abortion don’t get one.” Maybe we could think a little deeper?
One of the reasons the internet is so centralised is due to network effects. I have a facebook account because everyone else has one and it’s difficult to maintain a social life and a family life if I exclude myself from that space. I can choose not to drive a car, too but again that would make life much harder for myself. Perhaps we could subject these businesses to some basic standards of accountability and oversight and put the public interest ahead of private profit once in a while.
Given that they can rewrite their T&C or sell to facebook at anytime avoiding practices you dislike isn’t practical.