That’s right. Until recently, free speech was a near-absolute in this country (with exceptions regarding defamation, slander, libel, etc., for which there are legal remedies).
If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can just walk away. You don’t have to listen to me. But I have Constitutionality guaranteed freedom of speech, and you don’t get to infringe on that.
The Authorities are using the old ‘it’s for your own good’ rationale to take away our freedom of speech. But that would lead to complete loss of freedom. Think of it: every day, countless illegal acts, including ‘wrong speech’, are being done in automobiles - drug deals,criminal planning, thefts, etc. Should we therefore outlaw all cars? Society would be ‘safer’, right? And should the car manufacturers be held liable for ‘wrong speech’ done in their cars? For that matter, ‘wrong speech’ is done everywhere - on school playgrounds, behind grocery stores, etc. It’s not possible to eliminate every possible place where someone is saying something that someone might find objectionable, or that might be criminal. Are you going to hold the schools liable because some kids planned a shoplifting spree while on the playground?
Okay, it’s not completely analogous to Telegram’s situation. But if criminals are committing crimes via Telegram, then go after the criminals and stop the crimes. Don’t shut down everyone else’s free speech.
Millions of people were trafficked before there was an Internet. Uncountable amounts of illegal drugs were sold before there was an internet. Holding people like Durov responsible for crimes committed vis his platform isn’t going to change the illegal activities in this world; they will continue via other means. The Authorities are fixating on limiting speech, but that is a path straight to totalitarianism. We cannot go there!
That’s right. Until recently, free speech was a near-absolute in this country (with exceptions regarding defamation, slander, libel, etc., for which there are legal remedies).
If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can just walk away. You don’t have to listen to me. But I have Constitutionality guaranteed freedom of speech, and you don’t get to infringe on that.
The Authorities are using the old ‘it’s for your own good’ rationale to take away our freedom of speech. But that would lead to complete loss of freedom. Think of it: every day, countless illegal acts, including ‘wrong speech’, are being done in automobiles - drug deals,criminal planning, thefts, etc. Should we therefore outlaw all cars? Society would be ‘safer’, right? And should the car manufacturers be held liable for ‘wrong speech’ done in their cars? For that matter, ‘wrong speech’ is done everywhere - on school playgrounds, behind grocery stores, etc. It’s not possible to eliminate every possible place where someone is saying something that someone might find objectionable, or that might be criminal. Are you going to hold the schools liable because some kids planned a shoplifting spree while on the playground?
Okay, it’s not completely analogous to Telegram’s situation. But if criminals are committing crimes via Telegram, then go after the criminals and stop the crimes. Don’t shut down everyone else’s free speech.
Millions of people were trafficked before there was an Internet. Uncountable amounts of illegal drugs were sold before there was an internet. Holding people like Durov responsible for crimes committed vis his platform isn’t going to change the illegal activities in this world; they will continue via other means. The Authorities are fixating on limiting speech, but that is a path straight to totalitarianism. We cannot go there!