WordPress Bans Fascist Website Linked To Charlottesville Killer (fastcompany.com)

tedlistens writes: WordPress has said that it does not censor websites like that of self-proclaimed fascist group Vanguard America. But last night, the group's site was taken offline for violating the company's terms of service. The about-face was likely prompted by Vanguard's participation in last weekend's Unite the Right rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia, during which James Alex Fields drove his car into a crowd, killing one person and injuring 19. Fields has claimed allegiance to Vanguard America; the group denies that Fields was a member. For WordPress to drop a site, even a fascist site, is a very big deal; the same is true of GoDaddy's and Google's decision to drop their registration of neo-Nazi site the Daily Stormer (another site that GoDaddy previously said would be permitted on free speech grounds). WordPress hasn't explained the shift in its approach to the website: the company's user agreement and terms of service have not changed since Charlottesville. That policy, like that of other tech platforms, has long stood by strict neutrality and freedom of expression. That may now be changing.

Comments

Re:Nice try

[jedidiah]

All of that sounds a lot more like modern liberals really. A new noisy accused racists may want more power and influence but it's the liberals that actually have it. Show up at the wrong rally supporting the wrong political ideas and the virtual mob will ensure that your life is ruined.

What liberals brag about actually doing is far more scary than what some fringe group is accused of advocating.

The whole thing would have been a complete non-issue if not for the counter protest and the communist militia that decided to show up. The media and screeching liberals are giving these people far more exposure than they would get on their own.

Re:Are we sure that it's a free spech issue?

[MightyMartian]

The First Amendment applies to the state, not to private actors. Perhaps you have a reading comprehension problem, so here it is:

"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."

See the first word in that sentence. It says "CONGRESS". It doesn't say "GOOGLE", it doesn't say "PRIVATE BUSINESS", it doesn't say "JOE JOHNSON OF ALBANY NEW YORK". It says "CONGRESS".