How else do arguments on the internet work?
Big Tech Authoritarianism
- Thread starter mmj_uk
- Start date
Soldato
I see a big difference between QAnon types and the like being allowed to voice their ridiculous conspiracy theories for all to see/mock/possibly re-educate - it’s legal to have dumb ideas after all - and pedophiles being given a pass via an ill-thought-through policy on a public platform to openly engage in illegal activity, both with others like themselves and with their targets. I don’t think you can stop people attempting to groom on any social media platform, which is why parents shouldn’t be blasé about giving their children an internet connection, but the platform itself certainly shouldn’t be an environment that makes child predators feel empowered to act on their disorder. They should be getting professional help privately, not coddling each other and coming up with hashtags so they can find each other and network.
Anyway, it was more about Twitter’s arbitrary banning policies - the admins seem to spend all their time randomly going after people for not having the right politics, satire accounts etc whether that’s unexplained bans, shadow bans, unliking posts or follows of certain tweets or accounts etc, and not enough on the things they should be looking at like death threats, threats of violence, child porn, etc.
- Joined
- 30 Jul 2006
- Posts
- 12,129
I think that the answer is probably to spend less time on Twitter.
By the by, I see that Prince Harry (AKA The Duke of Sussex) feels that social media corporations are a threat to democracy, accusing them of shunning their responsibilities. It seems that he feels that they should be held accountable for what appears on their platforms. It isn't quite clear who exactly should be holding them accountable.
No i knew about them as remembered all the fuss when Trump brought ACE in and overhauled NEPA. Clearly, you had absolutely no idea what they were and what they changed and fell for the obvious con of Trump calling it the "Affordable Clean Energy" Act when in fact it was "pollute and destroy the environment act".
I did google the fact that ACE had been thrown out in the courts though, had missed that with all the Trump coup stuff going off
Soldato
Nah you didn't. I can tell.
I'll tell you, ACE replaced CPP, i'm guessing you think the courts getting involved with ACE means it was some sort doomsday plan, Obama had exactly the same problem. His problem was overreaching government, CPP never got off the ground either.
Trump went the complete opposite due to CPP not really working, he went more decentralised, the overall objectives with ACE was to give states more power with regard to how they tackled environmental issues. If you dig a bit deeper into the some of those lawsuits, you'll see quite a few coal companies saying ACE was overreaching too with the with CAA. Lobbying power eh! Striking that balance between NIMBY/corp lobbying and using large areas for solar/wind farms has been problematic for decades. Still, the general trend with regards to renewables hasn't changed. There is no falling off the cliff under Trump, like you seem to think.
The original NEPA, projects could take years even getting permission to start, the whole thing has been streamlined so companies can get up and running quicker. NEPA is a difficult one, you're stuck between a rock and hard place. I can see arguments on both sides of this. Do you prioritise getting renewable projects up and running or do you take 3/4 years to do it but with the potential of less problems down the road. Its a tough balance to strike and nowhere near the clear cut case you are making out. Its just very obvious Trump did it, it must be bad attitude.
Nantucket Sound project is worth looking into if you wanna learn about the problems between lobbyists, NEPA and legislature.
Last edited:
Permabanned
As the tech companies are so successful and nearly everyone is using some format of social media. The TOS should reflect the country of origin's values. Free speech and adherence to the constitution should be a no brainer. No corporation should have that much influence with out checks and balances. Disgusting state of affairs. Accusing their political opposites as far right or far left. I guess if you are that far out on the fringe everyone else is going to be far something. I miss the internet before smartphones.
Soldato
Ha, perhaps - but for most of the population of the West, these platforms are the de facto online places people congregate online. There are obviously smaller market squares and places to meet (we're on one such place now) but it's where basically all young people interact online now - clearly not for the better.
It is a bizarre conversation when we're having to make such an obvious point that the promotion of illegal activities isn't the same as having a politically incorrect opinion. Any promotion of illegal activity should be removed in a reasonable time.
Also the people seemingly defending, or giving a pass, to Twitter for having CP on their platform, even after it being notified and multiple manual reviews allowed it to remain, while on the other hand we have Parler who had a few aggressive posts (like the many on Twitter) and this is enough to call for Parler to be removed. I can understand the argument some make that it's Amazons platform and they can do what they like. But that doesn't mean the poster can't have his/her own opinion on the matter i.e. something can be legal and we can disagree with the action.
On a different subject. The Google issue seems to be around the 'link tax' that was discussed a few years ago. Though I don't agree with Google threatening to leave a country over the issue (someone one day might call their bluff), I think they have a point when it comes to arguing against the link tax. I think it means if I linked to a story I'd have to pay money to the author.
Soldato
Although we all get a good laugh from QAnon it is a major danger to society. It has grown to include a fair percentage of the US population. It is even a movement now in the UK. No amount of mockery changes their mind and good luck re-educating them. When you have QAnon believers being elected to Congress you know you have a major problem. Yeah a few will peal away now Trump is out of office as the prophecy failed to happen but lots won't and it will continue to grow. I think they should have a place on the internet, if its legal then it should be allowed. Having in on the biggest platforms where it can target a massive audience is sadly a bad idea for society as a whole. Look how quickly Trump and his enablers managed to destroy belief in the electoral process, it took him 5 years, only 2 of which was he openly attacking it. That shows just how fragile democracy is. Like it or not social media has changed everything and if it isn't policed you end up with what has happened in the US or worse.
They aren't pedophiles in the eyes of the law, and Twitter has openly declared their policy towards them.
You realise how hypocritical you are being?
- Joined
- 30 Jul 2006
- Posts
- 12,129
I take it that you are referring to child pornography when you coyly mention CP?
Do you have many (or indeed any) examples of such people or did you just imagine them when expressing outrage at the rabble-rousing ex-POTUS being banned by Twitter?
Coyly? I think you're reading too much in to posts. But yes, CP = child porngraphy i.e. abusive images.
There is an active court case against Twitter about it. But it's not the first time Twitter as come in to the spotlight about this kind of thing. There is a youtube channel called Surviving Life that is all about investigating these types of subjects. Twitter as appeared in quite a few of the videos.
What as child pornography on Twitter got to do with Trump?
Soldato
Is the case people are quoting here is the one where a 13 year old boy was tricked into sharing photos of himself and then blackmailed into making a video? From what I've heard his mother contacted Twitter as did he. They asked for the video that was being shared to be taken down. Twitter said they viewed the video and saw no issue with it. I've no idea what the video actually contained and have zero interest in trying to fine it.
Obviously what twitter should have done is take the video down first and then review it because he is a minor. Also under these circumstances even if the video contained nothing inappropriate they still should have taken it down if for no other reason than it could have ended in him getting bullied by his classmates once it went viral under those circumstances.
All the social media companies need to spend a lot more money on humans to view martials that are reported and perhaps they need to be better trained.
Obviously what twitter should have done is take the video down first and then review it because he is a minor. Also under these circumstances even if the video contained nothing inappropriate they still should have taken it down if for no other reason than it could have ended in him getting bullied by his classmates once it went viral under those circumstances.
All the social media companies need to spend a lot more money on humans to view martials that are reported and perhaps they need to be better trained.
Are you sure you want this?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/tech...ilippines-generation-workers-is-paying-price/
I'm not sure what the solution is, but we can't pursue something that is akin to torture. Firmly of the belief that this really is not a job for people at all as the damage to society is only directed elsewhere, unfortunately algorithms aren't accurate enough and even if they do become accurate in the future... that just poses further ethical problems.
Last edited:
Soldato
Oh its a serious problem I get that. A friend worked on operation Yewtree, he came out of retirement to help. Viewing such material carries great risk for those involved. What else can you do though? AI just isn't there yet.