Check it Out: Facebook Supreme Court threatens free speech
BY JOAN JANZEN
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
I found these quotes about free speech. “It’s easier to believe in freedom of speech for those with whom we agree.” Leo McKern (Australian actor).
“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” Gloria Steinem (American journalist).
If you don’t use social media, you may not be interested in the following information, which concerns free speech. However for those people who are frequent users of Facebook, this is need-to-know information.
Social media is an awesome means of keeping in touch with family and friends who live in other countries, or in other provinces. It also keeps people entertained by providing everything from recipes to funny anecdotes to lighten everyone’s day.
So why does Facebook find it necessary to install what has been labelled “Facebook Supreme Court” to control all Facebook content? Well, as one of the world’s largest and most popular social media gathering places, it is not only utilized by families, but is one of the most effective tools used by advocacy groups, where they can share their campaigns on a daily basis and attract the attention of thousands of people.
Those campaigns include many issues, such as the gun bans in Canada, climate change, the energy sector and campaigns to expose UN lobbyists who try to force governments to support abortion or lose critical aid. Facebook is also a place where controversial issues can see the light of day, such as lawsuits imposed on individuals who stand up for traditional family values, or garnering help for individuals facing persecution in other countries.
Recently, Netflix, a popular source of movies and entertainment for many families, has come under attack because of its choice of a film called “Cuties”. Netflix claims the film criticizes the choices society forces upon young girls, but this does not explain why film has 11-year-old child actors sexually gyrating and mimicking sex acts, essentially glorifying child pornography. This situation and many others result in people signing many online petitions in an effort to draw attention to injustice.
But the establishment of this new advisory board puts all these campaigns for justice at risk, and would greatly infringe upon everyone’s right to free speech.
Nevertheless, Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg has plans to institute an advisory board consisting of twenty individuals, or a “Facebook Supreme Court” as it has been dubbed by the public.
This supposedly “independent” advisory board is being created with the power to review posts and decide if you are allowed to speak or not. It’s problematic when eighteen of the twenty “independent” board members are openly linked to left-wing mega-donor George Soros. This advisory group would greatly inhibit free speech for families and advocacy groups all across the world.
Facebook won’t control the actions of this new board; instead they are required to abide by the advisory board’s decisions, no matter what those decisions may be.
As a result there’s a push to let Mark Zuckerberg know, many Facebook users throughout the world want funding cut for this “Supreme Court” and have it dissolved wherever possible.
“It’s easier to believe in freedom of speech for those with whom we agree” is a relevant quote when it concerns the instituting of an advisory board which would regulate speech on social media.
Contact Joan at joanjanzen@yahoo.com