Surge Summary: A group of doctors convened by Republican Representative Ralph Norman to discuss views on coronavirus garnered millions of views on social media – until YouTube and Facebook removed the video in an Orwellian move to protect “truth”. Some are calling for the government to intervene and break up these social media monopolies in defense of free speech rights.
by Gary Bauer
[Monday] a group of doctors held a press conference on Capitol Hill with Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC). The point of the press conference was to provide a public platform for these doctors to express their views on the coronavirus pandemic.
The press conference was broadcast live online and was extremely popular. More than 185,000 people watched it live, and more than 17 million viewed it over the course of eight hours [Monday].
But then Big Tech stepped in. Now you can’t find this press conference anywhere. YouTube and Facebook pulled the video. Twitter also flagged Breitbart News’s official account simply for linking to stories about the press conference.
This is just another example of the immense power of social media platforms. They have improved our lives in many ways, allowing families to stay in touch over great distances. They have spurred e-commerce. But they were presented as platforms for free speech. They have become something quite different.
Unfortunately, the people running these platforms have graduated from the same universities that no longer believe in free speech. They have become a power unto themselves much like Orwell’s infamous Ministry of Truth.
They seek truth and announce truth much the same way communist China does. Anything that doesn’t toe Big Tech’s line is “disappeared” down the memory hole, just like [Monday’s] press conference.
More than 70% of Americans believe that the tech giants have too much power and influence, and they are absolutely right.
That’s why I am part of the Free Speech Alliance led by my friend Brent Bozell. [Monday], the Alliance sent a letter to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, protesting the blacklisting of several conservative news sites.
Pichai and other tech CEOs will be testifying [Wednesday] before the House Anti-Trust Subcommittee amid growing calls to break up their digital monopolies. If these companies, some of whom have cooperated with communist China, won’t defend free speech then they should be broken up and face competition from companies that will allow a free exchange of ideas.
The views here are those of the author and not necessarily Daily Surge.
Originally posted here.
Image: Adapted from: VIRIN: 100302-F-7734S-002.JPG; https://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Art/igphoto/2000389938/
Image: CCO Public Domain; Red Dragon; https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=203758&picture=red-dragon
Gary Lee Bauer is an American politician and activist, who served in the Reagan administration. He later became president of the Family Research Council and a senior vice president of Focus on the Family. In 2000, he participated in the Republican presidential contest.
Surge Summary: A group of doctors convened by Republican Representative Ralph Norman to discuss views on coronavirus garnered millions of views on social media – until YouTube and Facebook removed the video in an Orwellian move to protect “truth”. Some are calling for the government to intervene and break up these social media monopolies in defense of free speech rights.
by Gary Bauer[Monday] a group of doctors held a press conference on Capitol Hill with Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC). The point of the press conference was to provide a public platform for these doctors to express their views on the coronavirus pandemic.
The press conference was broadcast live online and was extremely popular. More than 185,000 people watched it live, and more than 17 million viewed it over the course of eight hours [Monday].
But then Big Tech stepped in. Now you can’t find this press conference anywhere. YouTube and Facebook pulled the video. Twitter also flagged Breitbart News’s official account simply for linking to stories about the press conference.
This is just another example of the immense power of social media platforms. They have improved our lives in many ways, allowing families to stay in touch over great distances. They have spurred e-commerce. But they were presented as platforms for free speech. They have become something quite different.
Unfortunately, the people running these platforms have graduated from the same universities that no longer believe in free speech. They have become a power unto themselves much like Orwell’s infamous Ministry of Truth.They seek truth and announce truth much the same way communist China does. Anything that doesn’t toe Big Tech’s line is “disappeared” down the memory hole, just like [Monday’s] press conference.
More than 70% of Americans believe that the tech giants have too much power and influence, and they are absolutely right.
That’s why I am part of the Free Speech Alliance led by my friend Brent Bozell. [Monday], the Alliance sent a letter to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, protesting the blacklisting of several conservative news sites.
Pichai and other tech CEOs will be testifying [Wednesday] before the House Anti-Trust Subcommittee amid growing calls to break up their digital monopolies. If these companies, some of whom have cooperated with communist China, won’t defend free speech then they should be broken up and face competition from companies that will allow a free exchange of ideas.
The views here are those of the author and not necessarily Daily Surge.Originally posted here.
Image: Adapted from: VIRIN: 100302-F-7734S-002.JPG; https://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Art/igphoto/2000389938/
Image: CCO Public Domain; Red Dragon; https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=203758&picture=red-dragon
Gary Lee Bauer is an American politician and activist, who served in the Reagan administration. He later became president of the Family Research Council and a senior vice president of Focus on the Family. In 2000, he participated in the Republican presidential contest.
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