Apple is removing Alex Jones and InfoWars’ podcasts from iTunes • Hacker News Board

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

#91

Post by tpxl » Mon, Aug 06, 2018, 8:28 AM UTC

jiojfdsal3 wrote: post #73

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Since there is no ISP monopoly in my area, should these ISPs be allowed to block content? You cherry-picked one point. Taken together, Apple’s lack of monopoly status, terms of use and lack of an explicit history of subsidies and markets exclusively granted by fiat make the First Amendment less applicable to it than e.g. Verizon. In the cases where customers dinged ISPs for throttling, it came down to the ISPs havi…

Except Apple receives tons of subsidies.[1] Apple is much more of a monopoly than the ISPs in my local area. I can choose between Google or Apple. On the other hand, I can choose between Sprint, AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Sonic, or T-Mobile. [1] https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/07/03/google-tesla-apple-fa...

What is Apples monopoly exactly?

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

#92

Post by peteretep » Mon, Aug 06, 2018, 8:32 AM UTC

briandear wrote: post #74

peteretep wrote: post #54

Good for Apple. It's terrifying that we need to rely on corporations rather than our elected representatives to make the right choices, though.

What should elected representatives do? You as a citizen have the right to not consume Alex Jones content. Apple has a right to ban it. The government does not have the right to be involved at all unless we are to simply ignore the first amendment. I definitely don’t want my elected representatives involved in idea curation. That’s far more terrifying. Go be a journalist in Turkey to see what is truly terrifying when…

> unless we are to simply ignore the first amendment

An amendment that very few other rich, developed countries have, and yet Americans appear to cling on to like it's the only thing stopping the damn wheels coming off.

Isn't 1A why y'all have Citizens United?

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

#93

Post by simoalx » Mon, Aug 06, 2018, 8:43 AM UTC

yuvalr1 wrote: post #47

Although I'm happy seeing this kind of content removed, I'm really afraid of a future where private corporations have such a definitive influence of free speech. They set their own rules, and it's dangerous.

Alex Jones has the complete and total benefits of free speech - he can continue saying whatever he wants without any repercussions from the government. Apple making a decision like this isn't influencing free speech in the slightest.

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

#94

Post by vixen99 » Mon, Aug 06, 2018, 8:44 AM UTC

unixhero wrote: post #2

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

And as on HN, 'rubbish' (or anything we really would prefer not to see even if someone else would) is defined by users' actions.

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

#95

Post by singularity2001 » Mon, Aug 06, 2018, 8:50 AM UTC

willio58 wrote: post #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.

I think Apple is completely in the wrong here. They are unnecessarily censoring. They should not censor, they must not censor. If this crook called Alex engaged in nonsense and hate-speech it should be the state's obligation to sue him.

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

#96

Post by singularity2001 » Mon, Aug 06, 2018, 8:51 AM UTC

yifanlu wrote: post #67

jiojfdsal3 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

No, because ISPs are natural monopolies ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_monopoly ). The government allows them to have a regional monopoly in exchange for investing in the infrastructure. As such, there’s no easy way for competition to happen. (You would have to invest in a new infrastructure. Notice how you never have two cable companies or two DSL companies unless it’s one company selling under two names).…

Apple and Google have a monopoly on the App store(s).

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

#97

Post by tomohawk » Mon, Aug 06, 2018, 9:01 AM UTC

dagenix wrote: 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.

As another reminder to everyone: free speech is a cherished value.

There is an expectation on everyone's part to uphold these values. To practice tolerance. To pull together.

By not upholding these values, Apple is stating that they disagree with free speech. They are exercising intolerance. They are saying it is better to create separate little bubbles to exist in.

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

#98

Post by seren » Mon, Aug 06, 2018, 9:03 AM UTC

s_m_t wrote: post #25

__m wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

So why now. Sandy Hook was five years ago.

Parents of Sandy Hook victims are attacking Jones in a defamation lawsuit this year claiming they are harassed by people believing they are paid actors and the children did not even exist (or are still alive).

So this is raising the profile of Alex Jones.

As an aside, losing your child is probably one of the most horrific event that could happen in one's life. And moreover, imagine being harassed and accused of fabricating it and not even being able to go to the tomb. This is really hellish.

Article on the audience : https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/us/politics/infowars-sand...

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

#99

Post by vixen99 » Mon, Aug 06, 2018, 9:08 AM UTC

crooked-v wrote: post #14

i_am_nomad wrote: post #6

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.

Unsubstantiated! If you want to make such a major accusation then why not make an effort and take the trouble to provide at least some reason to believe. And no, this is absolutely not a defence of Alex Jones. It's a plea for constructive comment that might be helpful if one's trying to assess an issue.

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

#100

Post by mhkool » Mon, Aug 06, 2018, 10:03 AM UTC

dagenix wrote: 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.

If one forces a person to to talk freely in a backyard instead of of the main street, one is censoring him since no one can hear him any more. That is happening when Apple pushes Alex Jones out of iTunes.