Hey everyone. It’s been awhile. I don’t normally post unless I have something to say, and this time do I ever. If you’ve read me before you’ll know that I mostly concentrate on humor. If you’re here for that, then sorry, today you’re in the wrong place. I’m going to talk about something serious and if it happened to me then you can bet your ass it can happen to you.
Very recently we all witnessed both Facebook and Twitter using tactics straight out of China’s playbook, censoring a story by the New York Post, because it was unfavorable to their candidate of choice in this election. All, no matter your political leanings should be outraged. As a writer and as a citizen in what is supposed to be a free country, I certainly was. So much so that when seeing an open tweet by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, I felt the need to respond, saying simply, “Unsuspend the New York Post.” Within 20 minutes my account was suspended.
Yes, you heard me right.
20 minutes later. No word of warning. No reason why. Just a notification that my account was suspended. Worse there is no appeal. Not really. There’s no number you can call to speak with someone, only an email address where an unseen entity who you never see or speak with decides your fate. Even in court you get to confront your accuser, but not here.
You might ask how I know it was Dorsey and not just a coincidence. I mean why would a tech billionaire with nearly 5 million followers even notice, much less waste time on me? Good question. First the timing. Only 20 minutes after simply telling him to stop blocking a newspaper with the fourth largest subscription rate in the country, I’m blocked. Too close to be a simple coincidence. Next I went back through the last two weeks of tweets and there was absolutely nothing that could have been of offense to anyone. That leaves only one suspect and it’s not Colonel Mustard in the library with a knife. It is instead a tech oligarch who does not tolerate being called out on his obvious abuse of power.
It’s become crystal clear that Bond villains do exist, and they come in the form of Big Tech CEO’S. No one is beneath their notice and they have to be stopped. I’ve never been in favor of regulating industries, but these last few years, and what happened to me Tuesday, has completely changed my mind. Regulate the hell out of Big Tech. Confront them with the biggest anti-trust suit since Teddy Roosevelt went after Standard Oil. Whatever it takes, do something, their power is only growing, and one day soon, it may be too late.
Until next time. πΊπΈ