Letter: No one’s freedom of speech was violated by removal of Parler

By Letter to the Editor on January 26, 2021.

Dear editor,

In light of recent highly publicized removal of individual’s accounts and social media platforms from Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Google and Instagram, I read with interest, and then growing concern, Cash Moore’s column in the News on Jan. 21.

Moore is promoting the misconception that “big tech companies” are “setting the rules for online discourse,” when it is actually our elected legislators who make the regulations to protect our freedom of speech.

Owners of online social media outlets have just as much right, and as much responsibility, as owners of newspapers, radio and television companies, to determine who is allowed to speak on their platforms and what is said, all within the law. Moore takes issue with the removal of Parler by Apple, Google and Amazon, suggesting they should not be allowed to do so. It is, however, something they are legally obligated to do if they become aware of content that is illegal or is potentially illegal.

Moore argues that a large segment of the population has been excluded from the conversation on societal issues. In actuality, a few speakers with highly questionable, and possibly illegal, messages were legitimately removed from their platforms.

Moore claims “mobs of cancel culture” are responsible for these removals, but provides no evidence to support his claim. If these “mobs” exist, what are they called? What platforms are they using? In actuality, a few ethical private business owners acted to prevent their companies from being used to promote ends that violated their moral and legal obligations. No one’s freedom of speech was violated. No new rules were made.

Michael Seitz

Medicine Hat

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