Live data from Hacker News

Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

buzzfeednews.com

11–20 of 151 posts

Re: Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

#11
post #2

A slippery slope, but yeah, that rubbish had to go.

The only thing rubbish here is blatant disregard for freedom of speech (Didn't really expect anything different from the fools here). There are platforms that are monopoly and they control free speech at this point.

Freedom of speech only applies to the government. It doesn't require any private actor to tolerate crazy, hate filled nonsense on their platforms.

It's his right to continue to spew his garbage, he just has to do it elsewhere.

Re: Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

#12

I've never listened to it, and in fact I have no idea who that guy is or what he talks about, except that he's supposedly a conspiracy theorist. For those of you who have, what made his show so objectionable (to Apple, anyway)?

He claimed the Sandy Hook shooting never happened for example and that the parents of the victims were actors

Re: Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

#13
post #2

A slippery slope, but yeah, that rubbish had to go.

The only thing rubbish here is blatant disregard for freedom of speech (Didn't really expect anything different from the fools here). There are platforms that are monopoly and they control free speech at this point.

“Freedom of speech” does not include the right to demand that third parties are partners in your activities.

Infowars is and should remain free to publish content independently of these providers, which they can easily do.

Re: Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

#14

I've never listened to it, and in fact I have no idea who that guy is or what he talks about, except that he's supposedly a conspiracy theorist. For those of you who have, what made his show so objectionable (to Apple, anyway)?

He lies constantly and has actively slandered mass murder victims.

Re: Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

#15
I think Apple is completely in the right here. They are enforcing a policy and if people don’t like that they don’t have to find podcasts through iTunes.

Luckily podcasts are designed to be decentralized, so even if Apple gets too trigger-happy with banning certain podcasts, that won’t affect anyone’s ability to still subscribe to those podcasts.

Re: Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

#16
post #2

A slippery slope, but yeah, that rubbish had to go.

The only thing rubbish here is blatant disregard for freedom of speech (Didn't really expect anything different from the fools here). There are platforms that are monopoly and they control free speech at this point.

Freedom of speech only applies to the government. Apple as a private company is free to censor whatever they want. Not saying that they necessarily should but it is well within their rights.

Re: Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

#17
post #3

Their platform, their rules. Good on Apple I say.

Exactly, now let's make open decentralized app distribution platforms that cannot be censored like this.

Podcasts are decentralized already. The feed is still there, just not in Apple’s opt-in index any longer.

Re: Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

#18
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only thing rubbish here is blatant disregard for freedom of speech (Didn't really expect anything different from the fools here). There are platforms that are monopoly and they control free speech at this point.

Fire in a crowded theatre?

Floating ideas is not "Fire in a crowded theatre"!

Re: Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

#19
post #2

A slippery slope, but yeah, that rubbish had to go.

The only thing rubbish here is blatant disregard for freedom of speech (Didn't really expect anything different from the fools here). There are platforms that are monopoly and they control free speech at this point.

The principle of free speech has to do with the systematic extermination of a widespread viewpoint (ex:Tienamen Square in China).

This is one company/guy getting booted off a private platform. He is still able to go to other platforms or apply for public permits to express his viewpoint.

Post reply on HN