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Amazon, Apple and Google Cut Off Parler

nytimes.com

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Re: Amazon, Apple and Google Cut Off Parler

#241
When Egyptian government turns off internet during a revolution, we call them tyrants and celebrate Twitter for allowing people to communicate freely. Yet, when US turns off a side of an argument the marginally elected majority disagrees with, we praise it.

Everything is fine...

Re: Amazon, Apple and Google Cut Off Parler

#242
post #146

I've read comments saying, "if you don't like Apple's policies, build a new smartphone." Are these people aware that that the same type of argument lead to the creation of parler: "if you don't like twitter censorship, build a new platform". It will be built. What then? At this point we are heading towards a complete mitosis of our information channels based on political ideology.

[deleted]

Re: Amazon, Apple and Google Cut Off Parler

#243

Where do we draw the line on how we censor the internet? Obviously actual terrorist group sites can and should be taken down, but this feels like it's getting more murky than that. - Should we be okay with Facebook censoring these groups? - Should we be okay with Google censoring search results? - Should we be okay with Apple censoring apps? - Should we be okay with AWS censoring websites? - Should we be okay with Go…

Aren't all these things already regularly done in response to copyright violations, spam, child porn, etc? Seems like the precedent was set long ago.

> Obviously actual terrorist group sites can and should be taken down, but this feels more murky than that.

Considering the perpetrators of Wednesday's attack had guns and bombs[1] and declared their intent to kill US political leaders... what exactly distinguishes them from "actual terrorist groups"?

[1] https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/politics/us-capitol-riots-arr...

Re: Amazon, Apple and Google Cut Off Parler

#244

Where do we draw the line on how we censor the internet? Obviously actual terrorist group sites can and should be taken down, but this feels like it's getting more murky than that. - Should we be okay with Facebook censoring these groups? - Should we be okay with Google censoring search results? - Should we be okay with Apple censoring apps? - Should we be okay with AWS censoring websites? - Should we be okay with Go…

For spam / malicious traffic / botnets, our answer to all of those is historically "Yes," and it's worked fine for the growth of the internet so far. It's of course much easier to get a lazy cloud host, registrar, or ISP to take someone offline if the FBI is involved and gets a court order, but it's always been the expectation that there's an abuse contact who will respond to reports from the general public. Every domain or netblock entry in WHOIS has an abuse contact, implying there's some consensus standard of "abuse."

Re: Amazon, Apple and Google Cut Off Parler

#245

Where do we draw the line on how we censor the internet? Obviously actual terrorist group sites can and should be taken down, but this feels like it's getting more murky than that. - Should we be okay with Facebook censoring these groups? - Should we be okay with Google censoring search results? - Should we be okay with Apple censoring apps? - Should we be okay with AWS censoring websites? - Should we be okay with Go…

As we have discovered, the sad answer to all those questions seems be be.

"Yes when it agrees with my political agenda"

Re: Amazon, Apple and Google Cut Off Parler

#246
It was only two hours ago when I wrote: "I'm curious if this will also escalate to low-level platforms (will hosting companies, registrars, or even ISPs start taking similar actions on a regular basis?)" when Apple removed the app, following Google Play from yesterday.

It would seem this cycle is certainly not done perpetuating itself as of yet. I think we are going to have some rough times ahead of us unfortunately. I have no interest in this app or those on it, but they are probably going to get much more upset and feel much more persecuted.

Re: Amazon, Apple and Google Cut Off Parler

#248

Where do we draw the line on how we censor the internet? Obviously actual terrorist group sites can and should be taken down, but this feels like it's getting more murky than that. - Should we be okay with Facebook censoring these groups? - Should we be okay with Google censoring search results? - Should we be okay with Apple censoring apps? - Should we be okay with AWS censoring websites? - Should we be okay with Go…

I see it more as a bunch of disparate entities all deciding Parler are a bunch of assholes and not doing business with them. Nobody's forcing their hand.

Also, you drew the line at actual terrorist group sites, and I think Parler is one of those. It doesn't matter if you agree or not, enough people at AWS (and other corps) agreed with me and took it down. Sucks to be a minority, huh?

As far as whether giant corps should be censoring content, it's nothing new. The fantasy of everybody running as an independent node of a distributed network is just that. Look how centralized Bitcoin has gotten.

Re: Amazon, Apple and Google Cut Off Parler

#249
post #211

Why do these companies suddenly now care about enforcing the mantra of the integrity of the electoral system now, and not in 2016? Why do these companies suddenly now care about sites hosting content that encourages violent activity now, and not in June?

January 6, 2021.
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