from the end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it dept.
Currently the content of comments on web sites are the responibility of the commentor. There have been several pushes to change that. So it is obvious now to ask the question, what happens if platforms really are treated as if they were publishers or movie studios and not as utilities? And would joke ideas like just slapping paywalls on everything be a real solution?
In the past year, especially in recent weeks, the public and political governance in many parts of the western world has signaled an increasing interest in removing most laws that protect Internet platform companies from downstream liability for user-generated content, and requiring the platforms to acts as publishers, responsible for all content on their platforms (or as distributors or broadcast networks), not as utilities.
There is certainly some understanding that the capacity for users to reach most of the world on their own without supervision or permission of others has created new opportunities and also provides a new layer of check on establishment corruption – an idea that may have reached its peak in 2011 with the so-called Arab Spring. On the other hand, there is also a problem like giving everyone detention to punish the few. Bad actors create real dangers for others and random victims. This has long been the case with some problems, like cyberbullying. But in recent years the Internet is becoming seen as an amateur facility that destroy legacy businesses and jobs and that can facilitate unpredictable (“stochastic”) terror attacks. Is the risk “worth it” – if you become a victim? The question has a strong parallel in the Second Amendment and gun control debates.
This discussion has several components. [...]
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @10:57AM (2 children)
This is a great idea ... except for all the downsides.
Maybe identifying the specific issues and addressing them with specific solutions rather than a broad brush, baby/bath water approach would be more effective?
Just remember that these platforms are trying to function/survive in many different countries with vastly different laws and cultural norms. So solutions that may satisfy or offend one group may offend or satisfy another. People have already proven that they cannot control themselves, and see trolling, abuse and bullying as not only acceptable behavior but fun.
It's someone else's platform, so it's someone else's rules. You have no right to join, participate or be heard. You have no right to anonymity. You have no right to complain. You only have the right to start your own platform and to then deal with everyone who wants to abuse your rules and treat you as though you are doing them wrong.
Believing that a one-size-fits-most solution exists is pure fantasy.
(Score: 1) by RandomFactor on Saturday April 13 2019, @08:27PM (1 child)
You only have the right to start your own platform if you also start your own payment processing, hosting and ISP services simultaneously.
В «Правде» нет известий, в «Известиях» нет правды
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @11:31PM
Untrue. Now, if your platform is so outside of accepted cultural norms that no one wants to do business with you, then you're going to have to find or establish partners who will put profit above everything else.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @10:59AM (4 children)
Reality happens.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @11:44AM (3 children)
What happened (in the past) is that Compuserve was eventually sold to AOL. And then the market reduced AOL to near-insignificance. I can't see going back, the day of the huge 'net_nanny is over.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @12:27PM
It is just beginning. AOL failed because there were countless alternatives for content outside of the walled garden in 2000.
With increased interest by government in "responsible publishing", or whatever, what is on offer will be limited to the "networks" that can meet government standards.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @01:57PM (1 child)
I don't follow. If I look at Facebook, I have a hard time categorizing them as a mere tool or utility. A software solution I can see as a tool. If I could install facebook and become my own facebook publisher that would make sense. It is up to both the publisher and all the content producers to follow the law. This is a difficult subject to find a common solution for as each society i different. I know my country has a great interest in protecting publishers, because they're important to a free and open society, so I don't think it is a bad club to be a member of.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @02:00PM
Oh, I think I get it now. I'm looking at it from a different angle. You are talking about the right to get published on a publishing platform. I don't think anyone should have that as a right unless it is a state owned platform.
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday April 13 2019, @03:00PM (7 children)
"Yes, they try unsuccessfully to cloak themselves and their actions in the language of liberty and privacy. In reality, however, they champion NOTHING but their own celebrity. Their currency is clickbait. Their moral compass, nonexistent. Their mission, personal self-aggrandizement through the destruction of Western values." Mike Pompeo.
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday April 13 2019, @03:04PM (5 children)
(cont) "Julian Assange has no First Amendment privileges. He is not a U.S. citizen." Mike Pompeo.
Thank you, Mike!
(Score: 2) by dry on Sunday April 14 2019, @03:53AM (4 children)
A President and Vice President who don't know what the 1st says.
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday April 14 2019, @05:23AM (3 children)
Mike Pompeo is my Secretary of State. And Mike Pence is my V.P. So funny when I say, come here Mike. And they both come running!!!
(Score: 2) by dry on Sunday April 14 2019, @05:49AM (2 children)
Sorta like a couple of puppies eh?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 15 2019, @08:12PM (1 child)
Sorta like a couple of pup
piespets eh?FTFY.
(Score: 2) by dry on Tuesday April 16 2019, @01:34AM
Pets are something that people actually care about, whereas some like abusing puppies.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Saturday April 13 2019, @04:09PM
The pot calling the kettle black?
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @03:00PM
Islamist, head-chopping rapists backed by the House of Saud and the Western establishment? That was a win for propaganda, not free speech. Given subsequent actions, Twitter were lying back in 2011 when they proclaimed themselves "the free speech wing of the free speech party".
This is the internet, trolls have been storming random forums with offensive shit since forever. It only became a problem when the normies turned up, their hysterical over-reactions becoming a higher octane fuel for the trolls.
As for censorship as a result of Christchurch, where were the calls for this after live streamed rapes and shootings? The unabomber didn't need the internet and neither did the Christchurch dickhead. Psychopaths are the problem; it's not difficult to see why some people [businessinsider.com] deflect from this reality and create an excuse to censor and insulate themselves from criticism rather than dealing with the problem.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by VacuumTube on Saturday April 13 2019, @03:52PM (3 children)
We will either have free and open communications or we won't.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @04:44PM (1 child)
Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @06:51PM
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 14 2019, @01:24AM
I'll take one of each!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @05:01PM (1 child)
Problem manufactured by the MSM, solution provided by the MSM. None of which has to do with mass shootings, which are produced by economic strain.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 13 2019, @11:34PM
Not the economic strain of the gun industry. Their business is booming.