by Chris Black
The only possible way to preserve free speech on the internet is for the US government to run a public forum protected by the First Amendment.
Naturally, people would distrust such a platform and it would be abused by the feds in some shape or form. But at least there would be more visibility and the prospect of accountability.
Google watches everything you do and pipes it directly to the FBI no questions asked. But the false dichotomy of private vs public gives people an erroneous sense of privacy and security.
The other solution is for countries like China to create Facebook and Twitter competitors that protect American’s right to free speech.
US soft power products like Twitter and Facebook, who censor dissent aggressively domestically, allow and encourage people in countries Washington is targeting to plot coups and violence openly.
Juan Guiado in Venezuela is an example.