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Germany and France blast the “digital oligarchy” for shutting out Trump from social media platforms

Tuesday, January 12th 2021 - 09:10 UTC
Full article 5 comments
German Chancellor Angela Merkel objected to the decisions, saying lawmakers should set the rules governing free speech and not private tech companies. German Chancellor Angela Merkel objected to the decisions, saying lawmakers should set the rules governing free speech and not private tech companies.

Germany and France surprisingly backed United States President Donald Trump after he was banned from social media platforms including Twitter and Facebook extending Europe's battle with big technology.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel objected to the decisions, saying on Monday that lawmakers should set the rules governing free speech and not private tech companies.

“The chancellor sees the complete closing down of the account of an elected president as problematic,” Mr Steffen Seibert, her chief spokesman, said at a regular news conference in Berlin.

Rights like the freedom of speech “can be interfered with, but by law and within the framework defined by the legislature - not according to a corporate decision”.

The German leader's stance was echoed by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who said that the state and not “the digital oligarchy” is responsible for regulations, calling big tech “one of the threats” to democracy.

Europe is increasingly pushing back against the growing influence of big technology companies. The European Union is currently in the process of setting up regulation that could give the bloc power to split up platforms if they do not comply with rules.

Twitter permanently banned Mr Trump last week after it decided the outgoing President's tweets breached its rules against glorifying violence. It cited his posts on the riots in the US Capitol.

The move followed similar action by Facebook. Founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Mr Trump's most recent posts showed he intended to use his remaining time in office to undermine a peaceful and lawful transition of power.

Big tech companies have come under pressure from lawmakers, civil rights advocates and their own workers to do more to moderate content that could lead to violence or illegal activity.

They long avoided such debates by claiming to be content-neutral. But in the aftermath of the storming of the Capitol, it has become increasingly clear just how much power and responsibility they have over public debate.

Bloomberg

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • Skip

    These are private companies and they can do what they like within the law and this is within the law.

    Not allowing someone to use your digital platform isn't a restriction of free speech. They can still say whatever they want... just not there.

    This isn't about freedom or liberty or any other rights. This is just a private company kicking off an idiot.

    No more no less.

    Jan 13th, 2021 - 02:32 am +1
  • HansF

    It is not surprising and they are right about the “digital oligarchy” no matter how low opinions are about the person being censored in this case (Mr. Trump)

    The following article in the US media is an interesting view about the matter  of ”a small and unelected elite” controlling the media.

    https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/09/trump-twitter-are-you-sure-456794

    Jan 12th, 2021 - 12:43 pm 0
  • FortHay

    True enough, Hans, but both France and Germany themselves censor a wide range of controversial ideas, from holocaust revisionism to Querdenkers. It remains up to the individual to think for himself, but the ability to share such thoughts should be a universal right (liberty), regardless how factually wrong or controversial the opinions might be. Without liberty, the pursuit of happiness is impossible.

    Jan 12th, 2021 - 03:09 pm 0
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