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If we have freedom of speech then how come websites or apps can ban or blacklist or whiteout

Trumpsucks

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Why do peoples get banned that one centrist just for posting.
 
Why do people get banned that one centrist just for posting?

Why do you think freedom of speech means private companies are not allowed to ban people who intentionally violate their rules?

You do not need to be a Constitution expert to figure this out.
 
Why do peoples get banned that one centrist just for posting.

Here is a serious answer.

I know that you are sincere.

Here in the United States, our Constitution says that the government cannot censor speech (with certain exceptions).

So anyone can stand on the street corner and say very loudly, for example, "I wish people would stop attacking Asian people."

But when the Internet came along, and message boards were started (Facebook and Twitter are. as some other members have pointed out, just glorified message boards), the law allowed them to ban anyone they wanted to. Just as print newspapers do not have to print a reader's letter.

Currently, some people are trying to change the law. In our state of Florida, a new law prohibits Twitter, for example, from banning people. The law will be taken to the courts, which will decide if it's constitutional.

Currently, if you want to post on any message board, you will have to comply with its rules.

Remember: There are many message boards. They have different rules.


Best wishes!
 
It is true that private companies can ban whatever speech they want.

But this opens a can of worms. Can the huge actors like Facebook, Twitter and the like now be considered essentially monopolies and can they be subject to anti trust legislation?

I wonder if this has been considered.
 
Why do peoples get banned that one centrist just for posting.
The First Amendment is as follows:

---Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.---

It says nothing about a private company making rules about how they will run their company. It is just like a private home. If you insult me in my home, I kick you out.
 
xkcd_freespeech.png
 
Someday people will understand that the First Amendment only prohibits the Government from interfering with your right to make a fool of yourself. Private entities can, and do, restrict speech all the time.

It's not that hard a concept to understand.
 
Why do peoples get banned that one centrist just for posting.
Freedom of speech is a right based on the limitations of government. Unless harm can be shown (libel/slander, call to harm or kill) the government is not supposed to give punishment what was said, nor are others supposed to violate the speaker's rights as punishment for the speech.

But like all rights, they are limited, and can be superceded by other rights as determined by situational context. Private property rights is one context which usually supercedes freedom of speech. Forums are private property. As such the owner and their representatives can limit speech on there as much as they want.
 
It is true that private companies can ban whatever speech they want.

But this opens a can of worms. Can the huge actors like Facebook, Twitter and the like now be considered essentially monopolies and can they be subject to anti trust legislation?

I wonder if this has been considered.
Monopolies of what? That is what first has to be determined. And even so, that right of theirs to limit speech on their platforms only does nothing to even de facto limit individual speech. We are still free to go out in the world's and say and print whatever we want. Freedom of speech does not come with a guarantee of platform for said speech.
 
It is true that private companies can ban whatever speech they want.

But this opens a can of worms. Can the huge actors like Facebook, Twitter and the like now be considered essentially monopolies and can they be subject to anti trust legislation?

I wonder if this has been considered.

Can multiple social media entities be considered monopolies? This opens a huge can of worms on the definition of the word and the English language!
 
Can multiple social media entities be considered monopolies? This opens a huge can of worms on the definition of the word and the English language!
Well, that's the argument, is it not? Are the big SM outlets now media 'utilities' to be regulated. Probably so. The problem remains, though, can the government make them, in violation of the Constitution, permit free speech for their employees.
 
Well, that's the argument, is it not? Are the big SM outlets now media 'utilities' to be regulated. Probably so. The problem remains, though, can the government make them, in violation of the Constitution, permit free speech for their employees.
In the US, media is not the same as a utility, such as electric or gas. Quite honestly, I find any regulation of content to be in violation of the Constitution. Regulation of frequency use, is a different manner so as to prevent overlapping signals of two or more broadcasters trying to use the same frequency in the same area.
 
The SM will eventually be treated as a utility, eventually, like electric or gas.

The law rules, not your desires. Government cannot forbid free expression generally and cannot force private business to permit it without tweaking the law. That will be interesting.
 
The SM will eventually be treated as a utility, eventually, like electric or gas.

The law rules, not your desires. Government cannot forbid free expression generally and cannot force private business to permit it without tweaking the law. That will be interesting.
Are you speaking as a utility as in the same way you treat the telly?

I'm not sure where you think the government has that kind of dominion over private business. Not in the US at least.
 
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