Free Speech-Social Media-Bob Davis Podcast 829

Facebook Bans

Lots of talk about social media and free speech these days. Facebook just banned several top content creators. Learn more in Free Speech-Social Media-Bob Davis Podcast 829.

Byzantine Policies For Advertising

My personal struggles with Facebook’s byzantine rules for advertising my podcasts is especially relevant. In addition I provide some ways to circumvent the rules I am sure the Russians have already figured out.

Who Decides What Free Speech Is?

Moreover the question of whether the constitution or a company determines free speech, is key.

Alex Jones and Louis Farrakahn…Strange Bedfellows

Facebook banned Louis Farrakhan Alex Jones, Paul Nehlan, Mllos Yiannapoulis, Paul Joseph Watson and Laura Noomer last week. Twitter banned actor James Woods. Who’s next?

Russia Russia Russia

Some say this all started with Charlottesville a couple of years ago. Even more alleged Russian ‘election tampering’ through social media has really got the social media companies running scared.

Silicon Valley In The Dog House

A litany of testimony in front of House and Senate committees from big Internet companies and the threat of antitrust enforcement have Silicon Valley billionaires shaking in their sneakers. In a way I almost feel sorry for them. Politicians used to love social media. Now Zuckerberg’s in the doghouse. Details in Free Speech-Social Media-Bob Davis Podcast 829.

Opinions Are Suddenly Frightening and Dangerous

Consequently one wonders whether people in this country will ever be able to hear an opinion they don’t agree with, without being ‘triggered‘, or thinking there’s an international conspiracy against them.

What’s A Mother To Do?

Certainly users can block, mute or unfollow unsavory characters and people they don’t agree with.

However this isn’t enough.

Gag Them! Shun Them! How Dare People Express Opinions I Do Not Agree With!

As the result of their crimes, offenders must be gagged. Even more, permanently prevented from having their say. This is the corporate version of free speech, backed by a roiling mob.

Try Banning The Backlash

Finally the real truth is you can ban someone from expressing their opinions or entertaining, but you can’t ban the backlash. Sooner or later competitors to these companies will emerge. Content Creators will find other platforms.

In conclusion and in defense of Facebook, getting them to let me advertise podcasts has been clunky and frustrating…

Not impossible.

Moreover some of the worst trolls hide behind anonymity. In this sense, I can understand why ‘registration’ and ‘authentication’ is now part of the process for media businesses on some platforms.

No Longer A Democracy

There will be challenges to gaggings. Some of those challenges will be based on the first amendment and perhaps equal protection clauses of the fourteenth amendment.

And there should be.

I may not agree with your crazy conspiracy theory or your opinion, but I defend your right to tell the world about it.

Without free speech, we are no longer a democracy or if you prefer a representative republic.

THAT is truly terrifying.

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Free Speech-Social Media-Bob Davis Podcast 829

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Rainbows-Unicorns-Pixie Dust-Bob Davis Podcast 812

You have to be careful what you say these days. Moreover if you’re a content creator advertising what you say on social media, you face a thicket of protocols and rules. Better to talk about Rainbows, Unicorns and Pixie Dust. That is what we do in Rainbows-Unicorns-Pixie Dust-Bob Davis Podcast 812.

The Russians

Most noteworthy is the reason for all these new rules and regulations. The Russians!

Social Media Pressure

Since Russia allegedly employed thousands of bots to sway the vote for Donald Trump, something has to be done! Pressure on the big social media companies is immense. At the center of that pressure is FaceBook.

FaceBook’s Advertiser Rules Gauntlet

I ran the gauntlet of FaceBook rules recently. As a Podcaster my content generally focuses on Society and Politics. I am a commentator and reporter. I do not advertise or endorse candidate, parties or positions. Even more party political organizations, pressure groups or candidates do not pay for podcasts and do not control my content.

Withdrawing Advertising

I tried to advertise a podcast recently that objectively reviewed GDP numbers for our economy. FaceBook’s silly rules put me in an impossible position. As a result I withdrew my advertising. Learn more in Rainbows-Unicorns-Pixie Dust-Bob Davis Podcast 812.

Era Of FaceBook Over?

Finally it seems to me that FaceBook is increasingly clunky. Difficult to use. Consequently I think it’s time advertisers recognize the user experience on FaceBook is rapidly deteriorating. Some advertising executives have even suggested the era of FaceBook is over.

Rules Do Not Always Protect

In conclusion what is the responsibility of the user? Yes, I support the idea that we should be identifiable as real users. However unfortunately speech control often ends up hurting people instead of protecting them.

Much better to drape yourself in Rainbows, Unicorns and Pixie Dust.

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Rainbows-Unicorns-Pixie Dust-Bob Davis Podcast 812

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Russia Targets American Politics Again?-Bob Davis Podcast 809

Get ready. A sustained disinformation attack on the top democrat presidential candidates is already in progress. That’s the new story line. These days you can’t be sure. We’ll talk about it in Russia Targets American Politics Again?-Bob Davis Podcast 809.

Breaking News From Politico

Most noteworthy is a series of stories Politico has done about ‘hacking’ the US electoral process. The latest is an article which sources data analysts and other experts. Especially relevant? A new charge by experts. Russia is back to its old tricks.

We take a look at the story and the charge in In Russia Targets American Politics Again?

A Wide Ranging Effort

Natasha Korecki says her Politico story shows a wide ranging effort aimed at Kamala Harris, Beto O’Rourke, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. She reports certainly it is up and running with signs foreign state actors are behind some of it.

It’s Happening Again

According to Politico Weaponized Propaganda picks at the most sensitive issues in our public discourse. Furthermore that propaganda is being pushed across a variety of platforms. It’s happening again.

Wait! Not All Of It Is Organized!

Wait though. Not all the activity is organized. In contrast, a lot of it appears to be regular Joe’s sharing stuff they think is funny or relevant on their feeds.

Sources For Politico Article Include Democrat Operatives

Finally sources for this story include Brett Horvath who has worked for the Mayor of Seattle as well as other operatives who have worked for democrats including Hillary Clinton. Or companies like Storyful who spy on reporters.

No Conclusive Evidence

Even more Korecki writes researchers and others cannot conclusively point to actors behind “the coordinated activity”.

We’re All Trolls Now

Maybe I’m churlish but it seems to me the writer, sources and Politico itself are getting a lot of mileage out of this. The principles in the story are sharing the story on their own feeds. Just slightly Troll Like, don’t you think? Maybe the Russians have switched sides this time!

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Russia Targets American Politics Again?-Bob Davis Podcast 809

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