White House drafting executive order to tackle Silicon Valley's alleged anti-conservative bias
Source: Politico.com
By MARGARET HARDING MCGILL and DANIEL LIPPMAN 08/07/2019 03:07 PM EDT
The White House is circulating drafts of a proposed executive order that would address allegations of anti-conservative bias by social media companies, according to a White House official and two other people familiar with the matter a month after President Donald Trump pledged to explore "all regulatory and legislative solutions" on the issue.
None of the three would describe the contents of the order, which one person cautioned has already taken many different forms and remains in flux. But its existence, and the deliberations surrounding it, are evidence that the administration is taking a serious look at wielding the federal governments power against Silicon Valley.
If the internet is going to be presented as this egalitarian platform and most of Twitter is liberal cesspools of venom, then at least the president wants some fairness in the system, the White House official said. But look, we also think that social media plays a vital role. They have a vital role and an increasing responsibility to the culture that has helped make them so profitable and so prominent."
Two other people knowledgeable about the discussions also confirmed the existence of the draft order.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/07/white-house-tech-censorship-1639051
The level of clueless hubris this suggests it staggering but the potential damage to our Democratic norms is incalculable.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)They should be working in D.C.
Historic NY
(37,452 posts)pull the switch for a day...
yaesu
(8,020 posts)JohnnyRingo
(18,638 posts)Let him use email to get his blatherings out.
He doesn't know who he fucking with here. hahaha
Thekaspervote
(32,785 posts)Filed, and with their deep pockets and the law on their side....aint happening creep
Fiendish Thingy
(15,649 posts)And Twitter, well the fact that they haven't shut his account proves they have no bias.
Draft another article of impeachment for First Amendment violations...
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,027 posts)truthisfreedom
(23,151 posts)And dont ever shut it off.
NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)They only modify the instructions to executive branch agencies on how to carry out a law, and are not laws. If no law addresses this, the companies can just ignore it.
djg21
(1,803 posts)Last edited Thu Aug 8, 2019, 10:00 PM - Edit history (1)
I obviously dont know what it would say, but to the extent it compels social medial outlets to allow more conservative speech, it very likely would run afoul of the First Amendment. Wasnt this a criticism of the Fairness Doctrine? Its not like Twitter has a monopoly on the internet. Rather than Trump TV, maybe Twitler can start a social network for his dumbfuck fascist supporters so they can exercise their First Amendment rights to spew their nonsense. Its a free internet, at least for the time being.
NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)Whereas the internet is corporate owned and websites are only licensed as a business where the First Amendment already applies.
djg21
(1,803 posts)The First Amendment generally prohibits the Government from regulating the content of speech, irrespective of whether it does so by imposing conditions on the grant of a license or by executive order somehow requiring fairness. Were speculating because we dont know what Twitler has in mind, but it doesnt sound as if it will pass Constitutional muster.
NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)Fullduplexxx
(7,867 posts)BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)You might just get it.
Bayard
(22,121 posts)LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)That'll confuse his wee base.
Firestorm49
(4,036 posts)Censorship? Shut them down, damn the Constitution? Trump TV or no TV?
If you cant take the heat, you little sissy, get out of the kitchen.
Yavin4
(35,445 posts)Imagine the hue and cry from conservatives over that headline.
BTW, it would have been more appropriate since the broadcasting spectrum is limited.