“In praise of censorship in U.S.” by Susan Estrich (The Columbian, April 26) asks “Is it better if Zuckerberg or Musk makes the decisions, instead of Joe Biden,” as to what speech is prohibited? In truth, I would prefer that society take on this role, as it did in the past, to restrict what kind of speech is acceptable and what was not. But society seems to have dropped that ball and companies that profit from platform content are reluctant to step in and pick it up for fear of losing their profits.
The government has urged social media businesses, at a minimum, to label mischaracterizations and lies as such and provide corrections or links to facts. Those businesses are resistant to filtering subscriber speech that pushes lies, mischaracterizations, baseless rumors, and character assassination, all of which lead to inciting people with bad intentions to commit attacks against ethnic minorities, women, LGBTQ+, disabled people, etc.
As a society, are we doomed to become the Villain-America driven by immoral, always hateful, angry, threatening, naysayer extremists who destroy instead of building? Or can we rebuild the values of civility, politeness, consideration and cooperation in society? It has to begin with society, including the government, social media and us, refusing to accept villainous behavior by speaking up every time.
