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“Loyal friends are hard to find.” For the free speech community, these words of Shakespeare have long been a tragic truth. In fact, it wasn't until tech billionaire Elon Musk bought Twitter (now It was happening.
Now, Musk may have added a new key ally that could help turn the tide on free speech: Mark Zuckerberg.
Meta's CEO announced in a new video that the company is adopting the X standard and restoring free speech protections across its Facebook, Instagram, and Meta platforms. Meta will also end its third-party fact-checking program, introduce a “community notes” system, and focus on removing criminal and fraudulent content. This is just a guideline. suggested by some of us Previously.
Zuckerberg vows to restore free expression on Facebook, Instagram, Meta ends fact-checking program
To the free speech community, it was like the United States entering World War II to support Britain. If Musk halts the progress of the global movement against free speech, Zuckerberg could actually help us regain ground around the world.
As one of Zuckerberg's most vocal critics on free speech, it's certainly difficult to trust Meta's CEO. We all love saved sinners, but it's more impressive when salvation comes before anxiety.
Meta Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Building in Washington, DC, on January 31, 2024. The media heard testimony from the heads of some of the biggest technology companies about the dangers of exploitation. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
So let me just have a moment of catharsis…
In recent years, a combination of House investigations and lawsuits has brought much of the Biden administration's censorship system into public view. With continued findings in Missouri v. Biden, this is expected to receive even more attention, It shows that for years there have been misrepresentations about the extent to which this government-corporate collaboration is widespread across social media platforms.
Conservatives rejoice over 'stunning' meta-censorship announcement: 'A huge victory for free speech'
In my recent book, “An essential right: freedom of speech in a time of anger” I wrote about Zuckerberg and Mehta’s record on censorship, including their (until recently) failure to release Facebook files.
Mehta resisted efforts to uncover this evidence for years, even after Musk released his Twitter files, revealing a censorship system that one court described as completely “Orwellian.”
Although Mr. Zuckerberg portrayed Meta in Tuesday's video as an unwilling partner in this censorship system, he and the company have criticized our It ignored years of opposition from many.
Also on Facebook ran a creepy advertising campaign They are trying to convince young people to embrace what they call “content change” as part of a technologically driven evolution. It didn't work.
Although Zuckerberg portrayed Meta in Tuesday's video as an unwilling partner in this censorship system, he and the company have criticized our It ignored years of opposition from many.
When the free speech movement targeted Musk, Zuckerberg did nothing for years. Fearing that free speech protections will be restored to other companies, members of Congress, including now Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (Ir.) In response, they sent a chilling letter stating that it should not even be considered. Such movements and risks will be “part of our ongoing monitoring activities.”
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During a Senate hearing in November 2020, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told Zuckerberg and other CEOs that he and his Senate colleagues “fail to take action against dangerous disinformation.” He warned that he would not tolerate any “setbacks or setbacks” caused by the move.
Mr. Musk resisted those threats, but the pressure appears to have worked on Mr. Zuckerberg. It wasn't until Republicans controlled both houses of Congress and the White House that Zuckerberg and Mehta decided it was worth fighting for free speech.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief international affairs officer, acknowledged that the election of President Trump has changed the landscape for technology companies. [is more] I'm a big supporter of freedom of expression. ”
When the movement against free speech targeted Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg did nothing for years. (Andrew Caballero Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
It's a chilling statement, considering what would have happened if Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, perhaps the most anti-free speech ticket in history, had won. The suggestion is that Meta's new wellspring would have turned into a frozen tundra for free speech.
Free speech is rapidly declining around the world. Speech crimes and censorship are commonplace in Western countries. A new industry of “disinformation” experts has commoditized censorship, making huge profits by targeting and silencing others. A culture of opposition to free speech is entrenched in government, higher education, and the media.
We either hold the line now or lose this essential right for future generations. Mr. Zuckerberg may be able to make this a truly transformative moment, but it will require more than just a meta-denunciation.
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We need Zuckerberg now more than ever.
So, I would like to forget my feelings and say what I wanted to say. Mr. Zuckerberg, welcome to the battle.
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