International Angela Merkel criticizes Trump twitter ban

[Fox by the Sea]

It seems the chorus of respectable world leaders criticizing the twitter ban of president donald trump is growing. The clear-headed people of the world can see why it is a huge problem and what an awful and dangerous precedent it sets.

"Angela Merkel, German chancellor, has sharply criticised Twitter’s decision to ban US president Donald Trump, calling it a “problematic” breach of the “fundamental right to free speech”.

But Ms Merkel said through her spokesman that the US government should follow Germany’s lead in adopting laws that restrict online incitement, rather than leaving it up to platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to make up their own rules."

https://www.ft.com/content/6146b352-6b40-48ef-b10b-a34ad585b91a

edit - other sources
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/merkel-critical-of-twitter-s-trump-ban/2106045
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...rkel-Trumps-Twitter-eviction-problematic.html

 

[White Whale]

They fear the backlash will cause Biden and Democrats to lose power.

 

[Oceanmachine]

She is right but i dont care anymore. Maybe we need collapse and for the big tech to silence leftists idiots cheering this on.

 

[Social Distance Warrior]

I forgot which admin posted this quote earlier but it certainly applies. especially for those applauding this.

edit: due to Falsedawn, Trotsky, Fox by sea's comments below)

 

[Falsedawn]

she's right.

She literally said that the US should create laws restricting online speech.

She cannot simultaneously be right and also be following the Constitution of the United States.

 

[Trotsky]

It seems the chorus of respectable world leaders criticizing the twitter ban of president donald trump is growing. The clear-headed people of the world can see why it is a huge problem and what an awful and dangerous precedent it sets.

"Angela Merkel, German chancellor, has sharply criticised Twitter’s decision to ban US president Donald Trump, calling it a “problematic” breach of the “fundamental right to free speech”.

But Ms Merkel said through her spokesman that the US government should follow Germany’s lead in adopting laws that restrict online incitement, rather than leaving it up to platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to make up their own rules."

https://www.ft.com/content/6146b352-6b40-48ef-b10b-a34ad585b91a

...her position is more "anti-First Amendment" than the current American position. She's saying that the government should adopt more stringent laws prohibiting what Trump has done rather than leaving it up to the discretion of private companies.

 

[Fox by the Sea]

She literally said that the US should create laws restricting online speech.

She cannot simultaneously be right and also be following the Constitution of the United States.

she said the responsibility for those laws should fall to the government of the country, not to unelected mega corporation whose methods are basically a black box. she is not a free speech extremist.

 

[Frank McEdgar]

You can expect plenty of world leaders to be kissing Trump's ass very soon

 

[Fox by the Sea]

...her position is more "anti-First Amendment" than the current American position. She's saying that the government should adopt more stringent laws prohibiting what Trump has done rather than leaving it up to the discretion of private companies.

basically what i wrote above in my reply to falsedawn

 

[Ornife]

You can expect plenty of world leaders to be kissing Trump's ass very soon

Why?

 

[Confucamus]

I don't support laws restricting what speech can and can't be used online, except if it's a call to action or violence. But Twitter and Facebook most certainly are setting a dangerous precedent.

 

[Last Falconry]

a lot of world leaders will probably miss the guy when he's no longer president / dies. Sure, he's probably frustrating as hell to deal with, but It's nice to have a loudmouth idiot around that makes you look better by comparison

 

[Social Distance Warrior]

She literally said that the US should create laws restricting online speech.

She cannot simultaneously be right and also be following the Constitution of the United States.

thanks for the correction.

 

[CubicleGangster]

It seems the chorus of respectable world leaders criticizing the twitter ban of president donald trump is growing. The clear-headed people of the world can see why it is a huge problem and what an awful and dangerous precedent it sets.

"Angela Merkel, German chancellor, has sharply criticised Twitter’s decision to ban US president Donald Trump, calling it a “problematic” breach of the “fundamental right to free speech”.

But Ms Merkel said through her spokesman that the US government should follow Germany’s lead in adopting laws that restrict online incitement, rather than leaving it up to platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to make up their own rules."

https://www.ft.com/content/6146b352-6b40-48ef-b10b-a34ad585b91a

Can't view the link, unfortunately. Any other source?

 

[MicroBrew]

It seems the chorus of respectable world leaders criticizing the twitter ban of president donald trump is growing. The clear-headed people of the world can see why it is a huge problem and what an awful and dangerous precedent it sets.

"Angela Merkel, German chancellor, has sharply criticised Twitter’s decision to ban US president Donald Trump, calling it a “problematic” breach of the “fundamental right to free speech”.

But Ms Merkel said through her spokesman that the US government should follow Germany’s lead in adopting laws that restrict online incitement, rather than leaving it up to platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to make up their own rules."

https://www.ft.com/content/6146b352-6b40-48ef-b10b-a34ad585b91a

She speaks about Free Speech while her country has outlawed support for Nazis, Holocaust denial and has Hate speech laws.

Does Merkel only want Free Speech for the elite? Twitter is a private business, whereas in Germany you can be arrested by the government for certain views. The US government is not arresting Trump or anyone else.

Germany has convicted a man for hate speech and assault after giving a Nazi salute at a far-right rally in the country's east.
https://www.newsweek.com/nazi-saluting-protester-convicted-germany-after-far-right-rally-1120073

 

[Scheme]

Wtf I love Angela Merkel now

 

[Cariñito]

Conservatives love free speech unless it comes in a hip hop cadence.

 

[Trotsky]

basically what i wrote above in my reply to falsedawn

I didn't see that.

But it basically boils down to your constitutional priorities. To be clear, the current setup (where it's left to Twitter's discretion) is the conservative constitutional approach: one that narrowly opposes government intervention and supports the speech rights of the corporation in choosing what messages go through their channel and affect their brand. The liberal/left-wing constitutional approach, at least per the US Supreme Court, would be to relegate the speech interests of corporations since they are, legally speaking, only an extension or reflection of that corporation's pure market interests.

 

[Falsedawn]

she said the responsibility for those laws should fall to the government of the country, not to unelected mega corporation whose methods are basically a black box. she is not a free speech extremist.

And the government HAS made a law. That's what Section 230 is. And in line with the constitution, it proscribes no direct guidelines for speech as that would transgress the 1st Amendment.

You cannot say "the government should make speech guidelines" and also have the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution. Because what people are being banned for may not be illegal, and therefore not rise to a level that it is in the public interest for the government to restrict speech.

You're doing the exact opposite of what you think you are. Now, it's a transaction between two individuals. The person has a right to say things, and the platform has a right not to host it. You're attempting to inject the government to restrict free speech rights of platforms, therefore restricting speech further than if you had simply not bothered.

 

[Fox by the Sea]

Can't view the link, unfortunately. Any other source?

edited op with new sources