I think invoking "government" is just causing confusion. It's really about coercion. A platform owner using moderation in what they choose to allow on their platform is just an expression of their property right in the platform. A speaker using discretion in what they choose to speak is an expression of their property right in their person (acknowledged, but not granted by the First Amendment). When a 3rd party coerces (with threats or violence) a platform owner into moderation against their will, or a speaker into discretion against their will, that's censorship.
For some reason, lots of people have a problem equating government and coercion, but that's really the only tool in government's box...
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Re: Government
I think invoking "government" is just causing confusion. It's really about coercion. A platform owner using moderation in what they choose to allow on their platform is just an expression of their property right in the platform. A speaker using discretion in what they choose to speak is an expression of their property right in their person (acknowledged, but not granted by the First Amendment). When a 3rd party coerces (with threats or violence) a platform owner into moderation against their will, or a speaker into discretion against their will, that's censorship.
For some reason, lots of people have a problem equating government and coercion, but that's really the only tool in government's box...
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by abiogenesis.
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