Put Up or Shut Up! FTC Invites Comment on Social Media Censorship – DO IT NOW!

[Critter]

[Post in General Approved by Spark]



The single most common questions and complaints I get as Chairman of Knife Rights revolve around social media censorship. Under newly appointed Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson, the Federal Trade Commission just issued a "Request for Public Comment Regarding Technology Platform Censorship."

Friends, it's time to put up or shut up! Here is your chance to make a difference and tell your story. You are being given the opportunity we have all been asking for. JUST DO IT!

They have made it relatively easy, just follow the directions to fill out the online form. I sincerely hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to share your censorship experiences.

Knife Rights will be adding our own comment about our censorship experiences, as will I personally, but they need as much ammo as we all can give them. Let's all give them what they and we need!

To read the FTC's media release go to: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/02/federal-trade-commission-launches-inquiry-tech-censorship (If you choose to make an anonymous comments, instructions and a link on how to do so are in this release)

To download the document with instructions and link to provide your comment, go to: https://downloads.regulations.gov/FTC-2025-0023-0001/content.pdf

PLEASE share this far and wide! The more the better!

JUST DO IT!

 

[Synov]

I don't know about this one. Which is more un-American, a private company moderating what people can say on their platform or the government telling private companies what they can and can't moderate on their platform?

 

[Danke42]

Mean a bunch of rule changes here if a company can't regulate content on their socials.

 

[elevator man]

Thats easy! They can't censor anything without violating the 1st A. Things are turning around and it's time to hammer down and fix it. And no, saying it's a private company does not give them the right to circumvent the 1st A, especially when it's a public platform. This is a great 1st step.

 

[Danke42]

Does the first amendment cover everyone or just the government?

Does saying I can't declare myself a women named Danielle42 violate my right to free speech?

 

[spict]

[Post in General Approved by Spark]

View attachment 2798097

The single most common questions and complaints I get as Chairman of Knife Rights revolve around social media censorship. Under newly appointed Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson, the Federal Trade Commission just issued a "Request for Public Comment Regarding Technology Platform Censorship."

Friends, it's time to put up or shut up! Here is your chance to make a difference and tell your story. You are being given the opportunity we have all been asking for. JUST DO IT!

They have made it relatively easy, just follow the directions to fill out the online form. I sincerely hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to share your censorship experiences.

Knife Rights will be adding our own comment about our censorship experiences, as will I personally, but they need as much ammo as we all can give them. Let's all give them what they and we need!

To read the FTC's media release go to: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/02/federal-trade-commission-launches-inquiry-tech-censorship (If you choose to make an anonymous comments, instructions and a link on how to do so are in this release)

To download the document with instructions and link to provide your comment, go to: https://downloads.regulations.gov/FTC-2025-0023-0001/content.pdf

PLEASE share this far and wide! The more the better!

JUST DO IT!

You first?

 

[Synov]

Thats easy! They can't censor anything without violating the 1st A. Things are turning around and it's time to hammer down and fix it. And no, saying it's a private company does not give them the right to circumvent the 1st A, especially when it's a public platform. This is a great 1st step.

Every social media company censors something, including this website. So you think they're all in violation of the 1st amendment?

In fact the 1st amendment only restricts Congress, and the 14th amendment restricts state and local governments from the same actions.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Does the first amendment cover everyone or just the government?

Just the government.

Does saying I can't declare myself a women named Danielle42 violate my right to free speech?

If the government does that, yes.

 

[ChiefTJS]

Politics on the internet. Nope.

 

[Arathol]

Thats easy! They can't censor anything without violating the 1st A. Things are turning around and it's time to hammer down and fix it. And no, saying it's a private company does not give them the right to circumvent the 1st A, especially when it's a public platform. This is a great 1st step.

Well, no, thats just plain wrong....digital internet social media sites are not bound by the 1st Amendment by any means and never have been.....The owners can moderate content as they see fit, and the government can't tell them how to do it. The 1st Amendment says the government can't prohibit free speech, it says nothing about people or private companies.
Free speech under the 1st Amendment is only guaranteed on whats called a "public forum" defined as "when the government opens property for expressive activity" , and any discussion forum owned by a private company or individual does not always meet that definition. This subject has been taken up by the courts many times, even the Supreme Court last year. Texas 5th Circuit Court said in 2022 that this is censorship under the 1st Amendment, but SCOTUS vacated that decision a few months ago. In Florida, the court ruled that "as private enterprises these SMPs enjoy a sovereign right to “curate” and “moderate” the information they publish on their sites."

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