When Maga oligarchs control the platforms, it isn't really a debate about 'free speech' | Rafael Behr

The notion that allowing social media platforms to self-regulate is a debate about "free speech" is a ruse. What's really at stake is who controls the digital plumbing on which democracy depends, and whose interests are served.

When Maga oligarchs like Elon Musk control these platforms, the conversation around regulation is distorted by a cynical frame that pits liberal vigilance against the free-speech mantra of Silicon Valley's powerful elite. This framing conveniently ignores the elephant in the room: the concentration of digital power wielded by companies with ties to authoritarian leaders and radicalising networks.

The question isn't whether social media bans for under-16s are a slippery slope towards censorship; it's whether they're an opportunity to reassert democratic sovereignty over tech oligarchs who prioritise profit over public interest. The answer, unfortunately, is yes.

Musk's promotion of racist conspiracy theories and far-right insurrection on his personal megaphone raises fundamental questions about the governance of these platforms. Meanwhile, Palantir's ties to Trump's anti-immigration militia and its development of IT systems for sensitive government contracts demonstrate a direct link between Silicon Valley's interests and imperial coercion.

The current debate around social media bans barely scratches the surface of these issues. However, it does indicate growing awareness that the mass migration of human activity online is an epoch-defining political event, with default settings on platforms designed to serve corporate interests over citizens' well-being.

Regulation, in this context, isn't about stifling "free speech"; it's about safeguarding democratic norms and values. The concentration of digital power poses a unique challenge, one that requires a nuanced understanding of the interplay between state control, public interest, and private enterprise.

Ultimately, the stakes are clear: who controls the digital plumbing of democracy? Who serves whose interests? The simplistic framing around "free speech" obscures these questions, allowing tech oligarchs to maintain their grip on the digital infrastructure that underpins our society.

I'm so done with Elon Musk's mess! Like, can't he just keep his hate speech off Twitter for once?! And what's up with Palantir? It sounds like they're playing a dirty game of corporate espionage... it's all about who gets to pull the strings behind the scenes . Social media bans are definitely needed, but we need to talk about the real issue: who's really in control here? The people or these big corporations? It's time for some serious regulation and oversight... this can't keep going on!

I'm still having doubts about these new social media platforms... I mean, who really gets to decide what's allowed and what's not? It feels like they're just making it up as they go along, serving their own interests rather than the public good . And don't even get me started on Elon Musk - that guy's got some seriously shady connections . I'm all for keeping an open internet, but at least we need to make sure there are some rules in place to keep these platforms accountable . It's not about censorship or stifling free speech, it's about making sure the people's interests come first .

I mean think about it... social media platforms being self-regulated is just a fancy way of saying they get to decide what's best for us and charge us for it . And we all know how well Elon Musk has handled promoting conspiracy theories on his platform . It's like he's got some kind of "free speech" magic wand that lets him say whatever he wants without any consequences . But seriously, who's really behind the scenes controlling these platforms? The article mentions Palantir and Trump's connections - that's some deep-state stuff . We need to be questioning what's really at stake here, not just getting caught up in the "free speech" debate . Sources, please!

I'm all about questioning the status quo here . I mean, think about it, when you're scrolling through your Instagram feed or watching a live stream on TikTok, who's really in control? Not you, that's for sure . It's Elon Musk and his crew controlling the digital plumbing of our society without even realizing it.

I'm not saying regulation is all bad. I think we need to have an honest conversation about who's serving whose interests here . We need to acknowledge that social media platforms are a major player in shaping our democracy, but they're not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts .

The debate around "free speech" is just a convenient distraction from the real issue at hand: who controls the flow of information online? And what's the cost of having all this power concentrated in the hands of a few corporate giants? It's time to get real and have some uncomfortable conversations .

I'm all for holding social media platforms accountable, but do we really need to stifle free speech in the process? On one hand, it's super concerning when these big players are more interested in making a profit than ensuring public safety and well-being. Their handling of racist conspiracy theories and far-right insurrection is just plain irresponsible .

On the other hand, I think we have to be careful not to create this slippery slope where every little thing gets shut down . I mean, what's next? We need to find a balance between regulating these platforms and preserving our right to express ourselves without fear of censorship or retribution .

I'm all for increasing transparency and oversight, but do we really need blanket bans on certain content? It feels like the tech oligarchs are trying to avoid real accountability by framing it as "censorship" . We need to have a more nuanced conversation about what's at stake here .

It's not just about free speech; it's about who's in control of our digital infrastructure and whether their interests align with ours . It's time for us to take a step back and reevaluate how we're regulating this space .

I'm so over how social media platforms always seem to justify their lack of accountability by citing "free speech". Newsflash: just because you can say whatever you want doesn't mean they have to let you . I mean, think about it, when Elon Musk is spewing racist nonsense on his platform, that's not free speech, that's just him being a jerk. And don't even get me started on Palantir's ties to some shady groups... what's going on over there? It's time for some real regulation and accountability, not just more hand-wringing about "free speech". The digital infrastructure is our society's backbone, and we need to start taking control of it .

omg u gotta think about this!!! they r not just talkin bout free speech its like how they got a stranglehold on our online world and r makin billions off our data lol no wonder they dont want 2 b regulated they r the ones in charge but we r the ones gettin hurt by their greed so yeah regulation is def necessary to keep these platforms accountable especially w/ ppl like elon musk who's just spreadin hate speech on his platform

I mean, think about it... We're still debating whether social media platforms should self-regulate because they're all about who's got the most power online. It's not even about "free speech" anymore - it's about who gets to decide what info is shown to us and what's just scrubbed away. I'm low-key concerned that we're letting the wrong people call the shots . Like, Elon Musk thinks he can just promote whatever garbage he wants on his platform without any consequences? It's wild. And don't even get me started on Palantir's ties to shady stuff... it's like, basic surveillance capitalism at its finest . We need some real conversation about what kind of digital infrastructure we want to support - one that prioritizes people over profits, you know?

I'm so concerned about the role social media plays in shaping our children's worldview . My little one is only 10 and already I see her spending hours scrolling through platforms like Instagram and TikTok, comparing her life to curated highlight reels of other people's lives . What's even more worrying is that I've seen some of her favorite creators promoting conspiracy theories and misinformation . As a parent, it's hard not to feel like we're losing control over what our kids are exposed to online.

I think the idea of regulating social media for under-16s is long overdue . It's not about censoring their voices, but about protecting them from the toxic influences that can shape their young minds . We need more transparency and accountability from these platforms, so we can ensure they're serving the public interest rather than just lining the pockets of corporate interests .

It's time for us to take back control of our digital plumbing and start prioritizing our kids' well-being over profits . We need a nuanced approach that balances free speech with the need to safeguard democratic norms and values . Anything less is just not good enough

I'm so worried about my kids' online safety ! I mean, think about it, they're basically growing up with a whole different world of information and interactions at their fingertips... but what if that info is manipulated or curated to serve someone else's agenda? We need stricter regulation on social media platforms, not just for the under-16s, but for everyone. I don't want my kids exposed to hate speech or propaganda just because some billionaire thinks it's "free speech". It's like, what's free about that if it's just going to spread misinformation and harm people? We need to take back control of our digital world from the tech giants and make sure they're serving us, not just their own interests .

I mean, think about it... if social media is basically just a tool for these corporate giants to shape the conversation and push their agendas, then regulation isn't really about limiting what people can say, but more about making sure they're not using those platforms to manipulate or harm others. And yeah, I totally get why people are starting to question who's really in control of these platforms - it's not just about the content we share online, but also how that content is used and what kind of influence those platforms have on our democracy. It's like, if we're going to be living out most of our lives online, shouldn't we at least have some say in how that digital infrastructure is being used?

omg i totally feel u i mean i get what ur saying about free speech but like how r we even supposed 2 trust ppl like elon musk w/ all his tweets he's like the king of spreading hate & misinformation on his platform and now we're worried bout censorement its like, whats good for us shouldnt be about "free speech" but rather about makin sure ppl rnt gettin manipulated 2 death

I dont think its just about free speach anymore lol ... like we all know who's really calling the shots with their algorithms and whatnot. Its all about them making $$$ off of us ... and theres nothing wrong with regulating them a bit to make sure they're not spreading hate or whatever. Im all for a little censorship if it means keeping our society from being totally toxic . And btw, how can we trust companies like Musk when he's basically a modern-day kingpin ? Shouldnt they be more accountable to the people than just their own interests?

Social media regulation needs to be a thing ASAP ! It's not about censoring people, it's about holding those in charge accountable . I mean, Elon Musk can't just spread racist conspiracy theories and get away with it . And Palantir's ties to Trump's militia? No thanks .

It's time for us to take back control of our online lives from the big tech oligarchs . We need regulation that prioritizes public interest over corporate profits . The current debate is just the tip of the iceberg, but it's a start . Let's get serious about safeguarding democracy and its digital infrastructure !

THE SOCIAL MEDIA LANDSCAPE IS GETTING CRAZY!!! IT'S LIKE, WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE THAT THESE PLATFOMS AREN'T JUST ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE, THEY'RE ABOUT WHO HAS THE POWER TO CONTROL THE INFORMATION FLOW . i mean, elon musk is all about pushing his agenda and it's getting out of hand! we need to start talking about who's really in control here - the people or these corporate oligarchs?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I gotta say, it's kinda crazy how much control these big social media companies have over what we see and hear online . It feels like they're more interested in making money than keeping us safe or promoting healthy discussions.

For me, the whole "free speech" thing is just a way to avoid talking about the real issues – like who's really behind these platforms and what their motives are? I mean, Elon Musk is basically a billionaire with a platform that promotes all sorts of crazy stuff, from QAnon to anti-vaxxer nonsense . And don't even get me started on Palantir's ties to shady government contracts... it's like they're more interested in serving the interests of their corporate overlords than the public good.

I think this is what's so important about having some kind of regulation around social media – not to stifle our freedom of speech, but to make sure that platforms are serving us, not just lining the pockets of billionaires . We need to take back control of our online lives and start making sure that digital plumbing serves the public interest, not just corporate interests .

I gotta say, it's wild how some ppl think self-regulation is gonna save us from social media chaos... but what if it's just a way for the big boys to keep calling the shots? Like, Elon Musk promoting racist conspiracy theories on his platform is a major red flag . And Palantir's ties to Trump's militia? That's some sketchy stuff .

It feels like we're at this tipping point where ppl are finally realizing that social media isn't just about free speech, but about who controls the narrative and who gets to benefit from it . The idea of regulation being a threat to "free speech" is just a myth... I think what's really at stake is who gets to shape the conversation and make decisions for us .

It's not rocket science: if we wanna safeguard democracy, we need to have more control over these platforms and ensure they're serving the public interest, not just corporate interests . The way things are going now, it feels like a digital Wild West .

I'm low-key worried about social media platforms self-regulating . I mean, think about it – who's really behind those algorithms? It's not just Musk or Facebook, it's these powerful oligarchs with ties to governments and radical networks . If we let them get away with this, we're basically letting the digital plumbing of our democracy be controlled by corporate interests . I'm all for free speech, but that doesn't mean we should have to choose between that and democratic norms . Regulation might seem like a hassle, but it's better than having these powerful players getting away with exploiting us online . We need to have a more nuanced conversation about this stuff, you know?

I think we need to chill out and look at this from a different angle . Allowing social media platforms to self-regulate might seem like a good idea, but it's actually just a way for them to cover their tracks and avoid accountability. I mean, think about it - who's really pushing for these regulations? The companies that stand to lose power and control, or the ones that want to keep on profiting no matter what? It's not about free speech; it's about keeping the corporations in check and making sure they're working for us, not just their own interests . We need to focus on finding a balance between giving people the freedom to express themselves online and ensuring that companies aren't using social media to spread misinformation or hurt people. It's time to take a deep breath and have a nuanced conversation about this stuff .