Thread by @xtrabiggg

All totalitarian organizations and societies depend on having people out their neighbors and friends for being 'others'. Mao's Red Guards, Stalin's Cheka, E. Germany's STASI, Facebook's Brownshirt Army.

1)

Yes, it's a 'private company's, but as a 'public platform', under US Code 47 Section 230, it enjoys Congressionally-passed liability protection that prevents it from being sued for libel over posted content.

2)
eff.org/issues/cda230

If @Facebook (or @Twitter or ANY 'Public Platform) acts as a 'publisher' and edits content, censors users' posts or deletes content or users, it violates that law & must be stripped of that protection.

3)

Facebook cannot have it both ways. Unless the content is in violation of the law, it is protected free speech and cannot be censored for any reason. Private Companies that offer public services like Utilities. Common Carriers and the like can't arbitrarily deny service.

4)

So don't be fooled by the claim that a 'private company' can do whatever it wants. Your cell phone provider or cable company cannot deny service based on the content of your conversation, what you watch, or your beliefs or ideology.

Social Media platforms are no different.

5)

Now, as to Twitter... What is up with the #InferredInterests buried deep in the 'Privacy and Settings' section?

These are NOT interests based on actual tweet activity. I get EVERY Right-Wing pundit & EVERY FOX News show on mine, most of which I DON'T tweet about or watch.

6)

There are obscure, old news stories from over a year ago the continue to reappear, that are CLEARLY Anti-Trump.

How can these even remotely be considered 'interests'?

7)

And a bunch of CBC Nrws shows...

Hello, I am in America, and don't even WATCH Canadian Broadcasts.

And BUZZFEED?

WTF???

8)

'Red Eye' has been off the air for years. I Never ever watched or tweeted about 'Justified', yet NINE checks for it are on my 'interests'. 'Crossfire' is either the old CNN show from the 90's, or the NEW one that hasn't even AIRED yet.

9)

My inferred interests look like what a clueless SJW would THINK an 'alt-right' person would have. Every RW Pundit, EVERY FOX News Host, EVERY Trump family member, old, obscure news stories...

NOT interests.

10)

Obviously, Twitter is using this algorithmic 'tagging' for another purpose, since by 'inferring' these interests they are NOT dealing with actual data gleaned from my activity.

Tracking? Tagging us with topics & people that trigger suppression, 'shadowbanning'... or WHAT?

11)

Bottom line:ALL Social Media lacks transparency; there's no consistency of TOS enforcement, or even clear rules as to what can or can't be posted; no fair and transparent disciplinary process; no equal application of 'rules'- which are applied inconsistently (or not at all).

12)