Elon Musk’s views on free speech remind me of a story from a few decades back. Holocaust deniers began targeting college newspapers, asking the editors to publish their articles. If the editors refused, the deniers argued, they would be complicit in suppressing free speech 1/x
The strategy worked. Some college newspapers published the articles, often accompanied by a statement that although they didn’t agree with the content, Holocaust deniers had a "constitutional right" to express their views. 2/x
The deniers deliberately selected college editors, of course, because they were easy targets: young, idealistic, inexperienced journalists brimming with dedication to free speech and doing the right thing, even if it’s unpopular. 3/x
But, of course, the editors failed to understand that while the 1st Amendment guarantees the right to express ideas without govt interference, it does not OBLIGE anyone to share those ideas in their own publishing platforms. Editors have a different job than ACLU lawyers. 4/x
Musk is as naïve as those young editors, he still doesn’t understand the difference. And, like many, he fails to appreciate the importance of gate keepers. That's what readers are paying for—quality, curated content. 5/x
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