Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store • Hacker News Board

Re: Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store

#351

Post by bargl » Sat, Jan 09, 2021, 1:22 AM UTC

zucker42 wrote: post #195

bargl wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's legal for entities outside the government to censor things. IANAL so if I'm wrong let me know. But my understanding is that censorship is perfectly fine for any company.

I find undesirable to buy a phone where a company can arbitrarily decide what I am and am not allowed to run on my device. Because economies of scale make things cheaper if many people want them and because I generally believe in fighting the power of arbitrary or harmful corporate decisions, I try to convince others of the importance of this "feature" (really it's more of a lack of an anti-feature). Luckily you can…

I fully agree with you on this.

Re: Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store

#352

Post by bitstan » Sat, Jan 09, 2021, 1:22 AM UTC

andrewvc wrote: post #36

blisterpeanuts wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Parler has terms of service that prohibit calls for violence. My guess is that the moderators (I'm one) simply can't keep up with the volume.

If you run a social network and can’t keep up with moderation for calls for violence you shouldn’t be allowed to be in business. This goes for the big tech companies as well. “It’s hard” is not an excuse.

Chrome allows access to calls to violence.. Google fiber allows access to calls to violence..

Do you really want Google to be the morality police of devices and services you pay for? Because that's sad. It's sad how people adopt authoritarian tendencies because they disagree with people they don't understand.

Re: Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store

#353

Post by zests » Sat, Jan 09, 2021, 1:22 AM UTC

SpaceRaccoon wrote: post #145

dleslie wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's almost like there was some sort of catalyst event that occurred very recently that would provoke such a response. /s

Months of violent rioting in the streets? 2/3rds of democrats believing Russia hacked and changed vote counts in 2016? The hypocrisy is unbelievable. This will not end well.

One day we’re going to find out that some inordinate amount of internet comments are paid astroturfing and the regular commenters will be equally upset between getting duped and not getting paid for their comments.

Re: Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store

#354

Post by jessedhillon » Sat, Jan 09, 2021, 1:23 AM UTC

anonacct38 wrote: post #151

post_break wrote: post #4

Wow, is this the great purge? I don’t support certain people, but man I don’t think this is going to end well. This censorship just seems crazy to me.

If wal-mart stops selling a brand of ice cream, is that censorship? Is it censorship that wal-mart doesn't sell playboy in their store? If not, then why is the removal of an app from the app store censorship? The world wide web still exists. Parler is still on the internet. Seems like there should be some acknowledgement that there's a difference between refusing to actively participate in distributing content and ce…

Suppose Google releases an update to Chrome that prevents it from loading problematic websites. What really is the difference, in your mind, between removal from the app store and what I described? Or would you also find that scenario acceptable?

Re: Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store

#355

Post by roenxi » Sat, Jan 09, 2021, 1:23 AM UTC

mumblemumble wrote: post #252

Nacdor wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious why so many Democrats were allowed to encourage the BLM riots (more than 25 dead, $2 billion in property damage) without so much as a peep from Google, Twitter, Facebook or any other tech giant. Kamala Harris said "they should not stop" and helped with a bail fund for the people who were involved with them. I think protest is a fundamental requirement of democracy, and as Chris Cuomo himself reminded us:…

It's all pretty complicated, but one obvious mitigating factor is the ends being pursued by each movement. Rioting aside, BLM is ultimately pushing for justice and equality. There's also a question of blame - many would argue that most of the BLM rioting was provoked by a disproportionate police response. This movement, on the other hand, is quite transparently rooted in white supremacy, and had an explicit goal of t…

You're allowing the BLM supporters to characterise their motivations, and the Trump opponents to characterise the motivations of this protest. That isn't fair.

Someone who turns up in a Viking hat, tattoos and a spear isn't looking for a fight. A person looking for a fight wears a mask, armour, carries a gun and probably camouflage.

Re: Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store

#356

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jan 09, 2021, 1:23 AM UTC

blisterpeanuts wrote: post #285

greatgirl wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of the damage from BLM was incited by police, who were 500x more aggressive towards black protestors than the terrorists at the capitol.

Absolutely not true. Actually the police avoided the BLM protests for the most part. "500x more aggressive", my ass! You're just making stuff up.

[deleted]

Re: Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store

#357

Post by mhh__ » Sat, Jan 09, 2021, 1:23 AM UTC

SpaceRaccoon wrote: post #319

mhh__ wrote: post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 2/3rds of democrats believing Russia hacked and changed vote counts in 2016? [Citation needed] The chronology of Russian involvement with and around the Trump campaign, illegal or not, is pretty damn well established now thanks to the Mueller report, disclosures from other parallel cases, and the recent senate committee report. Changing vote counts isn't part of it. Meanwhile, as per YouGov [ https://today.yougov.c…

> Changing vote counts isn't part of it. Amazing! Then please explain where they got that idea put into their heads? "Two out of three Democrats also claim Russia tampered with vote tallies on Election Day to help the President – something for which there has been no credible evidence." https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/articles-reports/20...

Well where did they then? Find me a reference to something from a three letter agency, and I'll believe you. You're skirting around making the allegation via a rhetorical question.

If you're trying to pin something on me, keep in mind that I'm not even American, let alone a Democrat.

Re: Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store

#358

Post by AndrewBissell » Sat, Jan 09, 2021, 1:23 AM UTC

guscost wrote: post #176

Nacdor wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious why so many Democrats were allowed to encourage the BLM riots (more than 25 dead, $2 billion in property damage) without so much as a peep from Google, Twitter, Facebook or any other tech giant. Kamala Harris said "they should not stop" and helped with a bail fund for the people who were involved with them. I think protest is a fundamental requirement of democracy, and as Chris Cuomo himself reminded us:…

BLM riots were not a direct and realistic threat to the establishment. They are scared.

Wednesday's riots were not a threat to anything either. They knew it was coming days in advance and allowed it to proceed so it could be used as a pretext for the ongoing crackdown and consolidation of political and cultural dominance (as well as splitting U.S. populist factions onto multiple platforms where they will no longer see each other).

Re: Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store

#359

Post by valuearb » Sat, Jan 09, 2021, 1:23 AM UTC

djsumdog wrote: post #132

post_break wrote: post #4

Wow, is this the great purge? I don’t support certain people, but man I don’t think this is going to end well. This censorship just seems crazy to me.

The purge has been happening for years. I hate how people on HN is praising this. There are literally few alternatives for the average person apart from Google and eyeProducts. I have a PinePhone, but what percentage of America can truly put in the effort to use one? If you cannot install an run your own software on a device, you do not own the device. You cannot praise the removal of Gab or Parlor now and complain l…

If you must have a native mobile app, you can download it from alternative stores. Or Parlour can just distribute as a web app.

Businesses don’t have any right to force other businesses to carry their products.

Re: Google suspending Parler from the Google Play store

#360

Post by pstuart » Sat, Jan 09, 2021, 1:24 AM UTC

robbseaton wrote: post #306

lallysingh wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No coup. And quite a few employees from those companies were in those protests. And there are different arguments for merit between those protests. And the vast majority of the BLM protests we're peaceful. This one (sample size 1) was quite the opposite. Pipe bombs, small arms, etc.

More than 200 BLM protests turned violent. https://acleddata.com/2020/09/03/demonstrations-political-vi...

And who started the violence? And do you think the police responded in an equivocal manner? (Narrator: no, they did not).