Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Given that modern social networks essentially act as public space But that's the thing: they aren't public spaces. The number of people which have their content hosted on a private platform is inconsequential to the legal nature of the platform. Social media are very much subject to legal regulations and lawmaking. Calling a space which is governed by a private entity that doesn't represent you / answer to you, as…
> But that's the thing: they aren't public spaces. They are the de-facto places where online discourse is held, and at least German courts have acknowledged that even speech that borders on hate speech is a part of public opinion forming (e.g. https://www.idowa.de/inhalt.gerichtsurteil-nach-sperre-faceb... or https://www.e-recht24.de/news/facebook/11029-neues-facebook-... ). > Calling a space which is governed by a p…
Why is that contentious? Because that's exactly the one thing social media try to avoid: being seen as mere publishers. That would have massive implications:
https://socialmediahq.com/if-social-media-companies-are-publ...
It's another argument why treating them as "public spaces" isn't much sensible.