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Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes

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

#51
post #29

As a reminder to everyone: the constitutional guarantee to freedom of speech means that the _government_ cannot censor any views (outside of certain exceptions for threatening language, and the like). It does not mean that a private entity has to enable speech that they find objectionable.

So you support the idea that Verizon and AT&T should be free to block whatever content they wish, correct?

Well you can't have it both ways now can you.

Verizon, AT&T et al according to the US Supreme Court have the right to freedom of speech just as much as you do. So yes they are free to block whatever content they want.

And you have the right to not support them, campaign against them or build your own ISP. But your right to freedom of speech shouldn't stop others right to their freedom of speech.

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

#52
post #29

As a reminder to everyone: the constitutional guarantee to freedom of speech means that the _government_ cannot censor any views (outside of certain exceptions for threatening language, and the like). It does not mean that a private entity has to enable speech that they find objectionable.

Apple is not a private entity, its publicly traded company that has a monopoly.

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

#55

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)?

Well, they're calling it hate speech. He doesn't talk about any particular ethnic group (not even Jews, despite what his detractors might say). He's against IIRC having trans children take puberty blockers, which might be an issue, but TBH an argument can be made for the well-being of the child. No, I think this is an issue of twitter-mob pressure against Itunes after Spotify announced they would keep Infowars conten…

> not even Jews, despite what his detractors might say

He’s talked extensively about the Jewish mafia. He promoted violence against the made-up “Pizzagate” B.S. and only backed down because Texan libel law is particularly stern. I support Alex Jones’ right to speak, but I don’t think—particularly in the era of the Internet—Apple should support him.

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

#56
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He supports POTUS.

So does Fox News and their content is available everywhere.

Fox News is problematic, may be even extreme (Sean Hannity et al) but I would not put them in the same league as InfoWars. At least not as long as Shepard Smith gets airtime there.

See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHjFS5f1IT0

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

#57
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Go right ahead. And then watch as nobody uses them. Because nobody other than a fringe minority actually wants free speech in all its deranged, violent, racist, mysgonistic, cruel, abusive forms. The majority of us just want a nice, safe space free from the nasty side of humanity.

So your theory is that most people want supposedly-benevolent fascism, rather than liberty and freedom?

That's called a false equivalence. And this is not a "theory" its facts on the ground.

People have spoken with their actions. Facebook, Google, Youtube, Instagram, Apple etc etc continue to grow, prosper and not be subject to any major criticism whilst still happily removing content.

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

#58
post #29

As a reminder to everyone: the constitutional guarantee to freedom of speech means that the _government_ cannot censor any views (outside of certain exceptions for threatening language, and the like). It does not mean that a private entity has to enable speech that they find objectionable.

Apple is not a private entity, its publicly traded company that has a monopoly.

Apple does not have a monopoly on podcast indexing and it won’t become true no matter how many times you repeat it.

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

#60
post #29

As a reminder to everyone: the constitutional guarantee to freedom of speech means that the _government_ cannot censor any views (outside of certain exceptions for threatening language, and the like). It does not mean that a private entity has to enable speech that they find objectionable.

So you support the idea that Verizon and AT&T should be free to block whatever content they wish, correct?

Apple isn't a public utility. It does not maintain iTunes as a public service, nor does it have any sort of monopoly over podcast distribution. It would be very strange to regulate it as such. (To be clear, internet access is not regarded as a public utility in the US, although I think I lean heavily in that direction.)
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