Twitter’s Worst Nightmare; Forced Free Speech.
Social Media giant Twitter likes to give the impression it is open to ideas across the spectrum but this is just not true.
It is quick to censor when its butt hurt supporters on the far left are offended or when the platform’s techie policemen decide that some tweets are just too hot button; for their liking anyway.
Add to this the practice of banning, shadow banning and the tweaking of accounts to reduce the numbers of followers.
Note however that censorship almost never works in favor of the side of the right; or the center for that matter.
The gist is their demand to play nicely gives them cover to ban views they do not like.
So it is a case of free and fair no more.
But things might be about to change with a little bit of luck.
The billionaire high-tech innovator, Elon Musk has put in a bid for a major share in Twitter. And his course of action is causing conniptions in the Twitteratti world I’ll say.
The reason; as an ardent supporter of Free Speech he wants to force an open and free public forum, perish the thought. The idea seems to strike fear in the hearts of all who oppose him.
Which is an added bonus would you agree?
Democrat strategist Danielle Moodie let rip with “I’m going to be honest; Elon Musk is a danger to Twitter and to freedom of speech.”
May I ask what ails you? What are you so afraid of?
A decoding of what is being said is called for. More free speech will be the death of Free Speech. How Orwellian.
Twitters Board of Directors has gathered to sign what appears to be a suicide pact.
They have voted to reduce the value of shares rather than let Elon Musk buy the company. So a poison pill is their medicine of choice!
This move is one way to fend off a hostile takeover; although the level of hostility to Musk’s bid is still never the less surprising.
Musk will not trigger the poison pill if he stays below 15 percent ownership of the company.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal was asked how Twitter would protect free speech as one of its core values.
His answer was to be expected in a way yet still disturbing; at least in the light of liberal attitudes.
He said the company will not be bound by the First Amendment.
While most people can ‘speak’ on the forum he said, he implied that Twitter gets to decide who will be heard. Now if that does not sum it up?
All righty then!
Look the argument by liberals that as a private company Twitter gets to decide who can play and who can’t is not a good one.
First of all Twitter is not a private company per say; rather it is a public company that chooses to operate a public platform. A private company will have the names Proprietary LTD after its name and be solely owned. A public Company is listed on the stock exchange and allows the public to buy shares in it. So the rules of private companies don’t apply in their case. Thus they can either do a proper job without fear or favor; or forget the whole thing.
The politics of its tech management even shareholders should not be a feature in this; at all.
That is unless a propaganda outfit is what Twitter really is.
Musk is right the company is constrained by woke management. Censorship thrives in a-for-profit monopolistic set-up; unless measures are taken to ensure otherwise.
Like Henry Ford said of monopolies you can have any color of model T car you like. As long as it is black.
The problem for the Twitter board will occur when the “nightmare” of free speech comes in at $60 a share.
And they forced to go along with forced free speech.
Update; to give an idea of the high stakes involved we are told that the US government wants to order an investigation into Musk’s shareholder bid.
If they go ahead it will be a move that reeks of sheer desperation.
What are they trying to hide is my question.
