Kamala Harris aligns with autocrats to restrict free speech
In 2019, Vice President Kamala Harris expressed concerns about social media companies telling CNN’s Jake Tapper that they are “directly speaking to millions and millions of people without any level of oversight or regulation and it has to stop.”
Is this really necessary?
Throughout history, many authoritarians have used censorship as a means of protecting citizens from disinformation.
However, contrary to Harris’ view, social media sites are not “directly speaking” to individuals. They are platforms for individuals to interact and communicate with each other.
The modern left seems to be particularly bothered by unsupervised conversations.
For example, the Brazilian Supreme Court recently upheld a decision to shut down Elon Musk’s X platform over concerns of spreading misinformation.
It seems likely that the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, who had previously pledged to ban guns through executive order, supported Justice Alexandre de Moraes’ censorship of the social media platform.
The Brazilian high court’s decision has been criticized for undermining free expression and political speech in Brazil.
It’s clear that the state’s action in shutting down a popular social media site is a form of political censorship.
This censorship is undeniably politically motivated.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva argued that Musk should not disrespect the country, but the nation’s constitution protects free expression for all individuals, regardless of wealth.
In Europe, although free expression is theoretically protected, there are many exceptions that allow for censorship under various circumstances.
As we navigate these challenges, it’s important to remember that every banana republic has a Bill of Rights, and the question we must answer is how close we are to becoming one.
Recent revelations from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg indicate that tech companies have faced pressure from government officials to censor content, raising concerns about free speech.
It’s crucial for us to protect free expression as a fundamental value, even as political pressures mount.
Ultimately, the defense of free expression is a critical issue that should transcend political divides.
David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist.
