Storm sky over the United States Capitol building in Washington D.C.
WASHINGTON, March 28, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Storm clouds are gathering in the nation’s capitol that may threaten to rain on the nation’s young tech giants’ practices of suppressing conservative messaging while freely promoting liberal ideology.
To those who have seen their reach and influence on social media platforms suddenly minimized, the storm’s distant rumblings are a welcome sound.
Together they hold a near-monopoly on the flow of information and news. As such, the are able with their complex algorithms to manipulate public discourse and limit free, unimpeded inquiry.
The clash is unavoidable, because if the tech giants are allowed to continue on the path they are now on, the voices of conservatives will be muted to an inaudible whisper, and their visual presence will simply vanish. It will be as if conservatism, traditional religion, and even patriotism as we know them will have ceased to exist on the internet’s public forum.
When Facebook adjusted its algorithms earlier this year in order to ensure the promotion and dissemination of what it deems “quality news,” websites purveying ‘conservative’ news — including LifeSiteNews — noticed a precipitous drop in traffic and reach.
Steve Bannon, said last year that Facebook and Google “have become essential elements of 21st century life,” that “should be regulated as utilities,” according to The Intercept.
Basically, if you were to move to an alternative platform, you would be removing yourself from the public square that is Facebook, and as a result your ideas and arguments would be at a major disadvantage.
Unfortunately, like the telephone (Ma Bell) and U.S. Post Office monopolies of 35-years-ago, there is no effective way to replace the power and reach of Facebook with something else.
Think of it this way: if 35 years ago, Ma Bell did what Facebook does now — took telephones away from those who express certain opinions — how could you possibly compete on the level playing field of ideas? How could you join the debate, effectively organize, etc?
And this is why Facebook needs to become a public utility or be regulated like one, needs to become a place where the only rules governing our speech are the actual laws written by our elected (and accountable) representatives.
Nothing is anywhere near as established, powerful, or central as Facebook.
Leaving Facebook, or being purged from Facebook, is like leaving the public square. You are at an immediate disadvantage. You can no longer address the crowd. You have been removed from the primary gathering place where important debates and decisions take place.
Fox News host and pundit Tucker Carlson famously made the case for regulating tech giants like Google.
Google has already been fined $2.7 billion by the European Commission for violating its antitrust law, based on Google’s limiting of consumer choices for Europe’s citizens.
Google's former motto was "Don't be evil."
Lawmakers and those serving in executive branch decision-making roles need and want to hear the opinions of concerned citizens. Those who cherish freedom and democracy should take the time to encourage them against censorship by internet giants. Concerned citizens should push for stricter regulation or for breaking up social media monopolies because of the massive power they wield to shut down what they don't agree with.