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Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

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Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#361

Post by FloorEgg »

slg wrote: post #336
Ajedi32 wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't that precisely why this is happening? Because it's doing exactly that, and the people in power in these countries don't like it?

At some point societies are going to have to reckon with the fact that democracy, free speech, and unrestricted capitalism simply aren't a sustainable mix. A system that allows people to amass incredible fortunes and use those fortunes to influence other people's beliefs and votes is simply a system that will eventually fall under the control of those ultrawealthy people.

Unrestricted capitalism doesn't exist anywhere in the world.

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#362

Post by mmastrac »

greentea23 wrote: post #222
mmastrac wrote: post #62

Meta is the worst of the worst. I don't use it other than a tombstone account with some family connections and a separate burner account we use for Facebook marketplace.

This is how everyone talks about their use of Meta products: "I don't use them except for those times I use them...". We all need to actually boycott and actively help create alternatives or these little bits of fabricated need will keep them in business forever.

I doubt my semi-monthly marketplace usage is contributing more than it costs. If everyone used just the bare minimum free feature set, the company would not be viable.

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#363

Post by akudha »

noname120 wrote: post #180

Do they have a choice? It’s either that or they are shown the door, in which case they will probably be replaced by worse local alternatives in terms of freedom of speech and gov influence

“If I don’t sell drugs, guns etc at the street corner, someone else will. Might as well be me, I’d like to make a few hundred Billion while I am at it”

Is this a good justification though? I get what you’re saying, but the same argument you’re making for social media can also be applied to everything else, isn’t it?

If I don’t do human cloning, someone else will. If I don’t make bio weapons, someone else will. And so on

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#364

Post by mohamedkoubaa »

AlexandrB wrote: post #230
mohamedkoubaa wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The transnational private sector is neither morally consistent nor geopolitically neutral. The transnational private sector is neither morally consistent nor geopolitically neutral. The transnational private sector is neither morally consistent nor geopolitically neutral.

So what? Very few organizations are morally consistent or geopolitically neutral. Especially in 2026 where political polarization is the norm. Despite Meta's self serving actions here their morals are significantly better than those of Saudi Arabia or the UAE.

I'm not complaining about it I'm just pointing out that widely held assumptions are false

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#365

Post by EA-3167 »

dotcoma wrote: post #344
EA-3167 wrote: post #339

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What’s your more effective, less flawed alternative with a proven track record?

There were times when NASA went to space, not incredibly wealthy individuals…

NASA just sent four people around the Moon.

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#366

Post by za3faran »

EA-3167 wrote: post #339
slg wrote: post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At some point societies are going to have to reckon with the fact that democracy, free speech, and unrestricted capitalism simply aren't a sustainable mix. A system that allows people to amass incredible fortunes and use those fortunes to influence other people's beliefs and votes is simply a system that will eventually fall under the control of those ultrawealthy people.

What’s your more effective, less flawed alternative with a proven track record?

The Islamic system does not permit uncontrolled capitalism, requires fair financial transactions, is pro rights for both rulers and the population, enforces Zakat (alms tax / a form of wealth tax).

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#367

Post by mikae1 »

dotcoma wrote: post #148
fnordpiglet wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, I don’t. I remember when the internet would (it did!) and Usenet would (it did!) and irc and open source and the web (they did!) but social media was always about entertainment and (one way or another) monetization of those technologies. It’s the cancer of our collective mind and achievements.

Here you go. https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/06/08/the-twitter-devolution/ See also... https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/06/evalu... And these lies, of course, were spread by the social media platforms themselves and their PR departments.

And https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media's_role_in_the_Ara...

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#368

Post by slg »

FloorEgg wrote: post #361
slg wrote: post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At some point societies are going to have to reckon with the fact that democracy, free speech, and unrestricted capitalism simply aren't a sustainable mix. A system that allows people to amass incredible fortunes and use those fortunes to influence other people's beliefs and votes is simply a system that will eventually fall under the control of those ultrawealthy people.

Unrestricted capitalism doesn't exist anywhere in the world.

Neither does democracy nor free speech. It's interesting that you felt the need to quibble over only one of those three definitions.

I used those words in the context of the rise of companies like Meta and people like Zuckerberg. I trusted the people reading what I wrote to know that. A response telling me the US is a republic adds nothing to the conversation but allowing an individual to bask in their own pedantry.

Re: Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia, UAE

#370

Post by anigbrowl »

dotcoma wrote: post #199
krapp wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There have been plenty. Surely you aren't arguing that social media has never done so. Arguably social media has been one of the most catalyzing political forces in human history. And bearing in mind that "political action" can be in any direction, I found some examples. I didn't work very hard because this could have literally been a Google search on your part. Arab Spring Nepalese Discord Protests Euromaidan revolu…

The case of Iran in 2009 is notoriously false. See for example what ForeignPolicy has to say about it. More in general, Malcolm Gladwell is not convinced about the power of social media... https://archive.is/GryvI#selection-323.0-355.16

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