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EFF launches Site To Track Censored Content On Social Media (eff.org)

Mark Wilson writes: There are many problems with the censoring of online content, not least that it can limit free speech. But there is also the question of transparency. By the very nature of censorship, unless you have been kept in the loop you would simply not know that anything had been censored. This is something the Electronic Frontier Foundation wants to change, and today the digital rights organization launches Onlinecensorship.org to blow the lid off online censorship. The site, run by EFF and Visualizing Impact, aims to reveal the content that is censored on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, and YouTube — not just the 'what' but the 'why'. If you find yourself the subject of censorship, the site also explains how to lodge an appeal.

5 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. all the easier to track you, my dear by turkeydance · · Score: 2

    said the Wolf.

  2. laughable by r-diddly · · Score: 2

    Look at people acting as if social media is All Important and Significant and Stuff. So cute.

  3. Re:Do you know what else they censored? by Esteanil · · Score: 3, Interesting

    From a quick glance at their page, the focus seems to be on widely shared content that has subsequently been censored.

    So you'd need a fairly big conspiracy to make a fake censorship story here (or at least a pretty long, hard slog making tons of fake screenshots).
    On the other hand, this method will only work on things that arn't censored immidiately.

    Although, if it's algorithmically censored on posting (see Tsu), it should be fairly easy to replicate.

    --
    I'm a dreamer, the world is my playpen. But hey, I'm a serious person, I can't dream all the time.
  4. Re:What free speech? by bws111 · · Score: 2

    No, they are not at all at odds with one another. Freedom of speech means that you will not be prevented from speaking, nor will your life and liberty be put at risk by making a speech. Free speech most definitely does not mean, and has never meant, that anyone else has to provide you with a forum or outlet to make your speech. Why does it not mean that? Because any such requirement would detract from THEIR rights.

    Facebook, Twitter, et al can not stop you from speaking, therefore they are not restricting your speech. Whether or not you can be heard is an entirely different matter, but you have no right to be heard.

  5. Re: What free speech? by revaleis · · Score: 2

    Censorship by government and censorship by some website online are two different things. Free speech is only protected by the government. Facebook has no obligation to protect your free speech. Now they could if they wanted to but they don't have to. There is nothing wrong with their terms because they are their terms and they set them. They can really do anything they like with their own site.