A complex story is unfolding – based on discovery of a hard-drive belonging to the son of former Vice President Joe Biden. On that hard-drive are emails that appear to confirm activities by both men – potentially criminal, at least highly untruthful. Revealed by a newspaper, the story was suppressed by social media outlets. See, e.g., https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2020/10/14/election-interference-facebook-suppressing-new-york-post-bombshell-story-of-damaging-hunter-biden-emails/.
Cries of foul by Trump supporters, who can see no legal basis for suppressing evidence of untruthfulness and potential criminality before an election have triggered an avalanche of pre-election activity.
First, the outcry to republish the facts continues. That outcry was met by counter-cries that emails could be true-but-hacked. The counter-counter-cry is that the source is known and honest, no evidence of hacking exists, and if even hacked, facts matter. The information is of enormous “public concern.” See, e.g., https://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2020/10/yes-the-hunter-biden-emails-are-authentic-by-larry-c-johnson.html; and https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hunter-biden-emails-senate-homeland-security-committee-investigating-hard-drive-laptop.
Second, potential misuse of power and political bias by social media companies has inflamed the US Senate. Pre-election hearings are planned, letters to the FBI multiplying. Likely to focus on antitrust regulation and civil liability, they will delve into information suppression. See, e.g., https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-amazoncom-inc-media-misinformation-831341e1d56e48b5100375a2fd9d27b6; and https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-republicans-call-on-twitter-facebook-bosses-to-testify-amid-censorship-claims-say-subpoena-in-the-works; and www.dailywire.com/news/numerous-lawmakers-send-letter-to-fbi-director-demanding-answers-about-hunter-biden-laptop.
The backdrop for these hearings is a report – dating back months – calling for regulation of social media giants and ending liability exemptions in section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. The latest incident is salt in the wound, raising the stakes for social media outlets, suggesting a need for accountability. See, e.g., https://www.nationalreview.com/news/senate-republicans-take-aim-at-liability-protections-for-social-media-companies-ahead-of-november-election/.
Third, in concert with new civil liability – for libel, tort, contract, election law violations – the Republican National Committee is suing at least one social media outlet for “in-kind” political donations to Biden, via suppression of the incriminating emails. See, e.g., https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/tyler-o-neil/2020/10/16/rnc-files-fec-complaint-twitter-gave-in-kind-contribution-to-biden-campaign-n1064081.
Fourth, new evidence is emerging – suggesting the FBI may have had access to the incriminating hard-drive and emails in late 2019, as the impeachment process was unfolding. If incriminating emails were available, the source known, and they offered exculpatory material – which would have assisted in the President’s defense – the question is, why were they not made available at the time? See, e.g., https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-gop-fbi-hunter-biden-laptop; and https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hunter-biden-emails-giuliani-attorney-fbi. At hearings – perhaps in other contexts – the FBI Director will have to answer.
Fifth, a wider question hangs over this entire discussion – like a giant umbrella. What role should increasingly powerful social media platforms play in the future. Should they be regulated, subject to civil lawsuits, antitrust law, broken up, held to a higher standard of care than at present?
Does exercising editorial control and manipulating third-party content change their legal status and obligations to the public? Should they remain exempt from civil liability as “interactive computer service” organizations – a provision intended to nurture a onetime fledgling industry – or have they outgrown that protection?
If they can selectively suppress information on matters of public concern, potentially influencing a presidential election by content control, what implications does that have? Where do they fit, if at all, into public forum law? See, e.g., https://mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/824/public-forum-doctrine. They are not government, but their power is considerable, verging on monopoly or oligopoly.
Finally, in some ways, all these questions vector to a simpler question. What is social media? Is it more like television or telephone, newspaper editor or delivery boy, email domain or public bulletin board?
Has social media become so powerful that – in effect – it is a “public forum,” and must be managed that way, even though not formally part of the government? Is it like a public park – or use of private space for public speaking – and if so, what kinds of restrictions are reasonable? If it must block criminal activity, can it also block political opinions with which private owners disagree? Is that reasonable?
Unfortunately, just as we enter the swift current of an enormously important national election, these questions have popped again. They are legal, but also political – and not likely to be resolved before the election.
In time, the Biden story will be known, Senate hearings held, Section 230 scrutinized, election violations decided, antitrust regulation and civil liability reconsidered, FBI behavior reexamined, and social media put under bright lights.
What all this activity reminds us is that – like it or not – we live in a complex world, characterized by fast, concentrated, unaccountable, increasingly manipulable communications technology – on which we all depend.
Implications are social, professional, legal, and political. They raise profound questions of trust – in modern technology and who controls it, the integrity of our institutions and democratic process, as well as how we relate to each other.
In time we will sort these questions out. But presently, evaluating the Biden email revelations and what they mean – we are at a disadvantage. The law is unsettled, complex and needs to be resolved – but the election is just days away.
While the First Amendment is sacrosanct, manipulation of highly sensitive content – credible news that can affect an election – by powerful, unregulated, legally sheltered “interactive computer services” should be forbidden. Time is short. Facts matter. The full story should be out – and social media should help get it out.
More than ever, we need President Trump to win, so he may open up the dikes of the swamp and drain it. If not, the our country will turn into a banana republic. Heaven help us and our great nation.
ALL NEWS MEDIA (INCLUDING LIBERAL) SHOULD INCUDE INFORMATION JOE BIDEN’S CORRUPTION SCANDAL PRIOR TO ELECTION. The American people have the right to know the evil things he has done. He was the one involved in Russia, China, etc. and they impeached President Trump, who was innocent. THESE SCANDALOUS ACTS BY THE U. S. CONGRESS HAVE TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. Biden should not be allowed to run for President and neither should Kamala Harris. WE NEED TO RE-ELECT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND KEEP THE SENATE AND RE-TAKE THE HOUSE IF OUR COUNTRY IS TO SURVIVE AND REMAIN THE CHRISTIAN, DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY OF OUR FOREFATHERS. It is pathetic that so many of our men and women died for this Country in World Wars, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam to have the democrats in this country try to destroy that for which they fought and died.
As an AMAC member i have tried to engage our member about many different subjects this forum as given it’s members. We are given an ability to express our view about what ever is on our minds at the moment. Trump looks at solutions to problems as much as identifying the problems. This whole forum seems to quite good at problem identifying the problem some what lacking in putting solutions on the table. “We the People” become nothing more than a group think mob as the Democrats have. They have turned the media all types, education systems all types, government systems all types into institutions of group think institutions. They have hidden agendas with hidden leaders not answerable to WE THE PEOPLE. The only to defeat your enemy is to KNOW them for who they are and destroy them as they have implied and even stated the will destroy you. So my point is Shoe received 105 + to his or her post which identified the problem which is the vast majority under this post. So my question is other than vote what are the 105 + going to do to protect AMERICA from corrupt FBI, IRS, LOCAL GOVENORS MAYORS, ALL SOCALISTS, ANTI CHRISTIAN ORGS, JOE BIDEN, KAMALA HARRIS, NBC, CNN, ABC, ABC AND ALL LEFT TECH COMPANIES. WILL YOU LOVE THEM AWAY FOR THAT WILL NEVER WORK AS HISTORY HAS PROVEN. HILLORY IS FREE FOR WE NO LONGER HAVE AND EQUAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. OUR FOUNDING FATHERS FAUGHT AGAINST THE GREATEST POWER ON EARTH AT THE TIME. EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE AS EVIL SCHUMER SAID I BET HE DOESN’T THINK HIS LIFE IS ON THE LINE. I TAKE THREATS VERY SERIOUS SO IF MY LIFE IS, SO IS HIS, SO SOLUTIONS ARE MANY AND IT IS TIME LET HIM KNOW AND ALL LIKE HIM EVERY EVERY EVERY THING IS AS HE STATED ON THE TABLE. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, FOUDING FATHERS PAID WITH THEIR BLOOD. SLAVERY WAS ONLY STOPED WITH BLOOD. JESUS DID NOT DIE ON A CROSS TO FOSTER SOCIALISM, OR SLAVERY, HIS BLOOD WAS SHED FOR THESE SINS AS ALL EVIL ISIAH 5:20
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This Country better wake up , this is getting really bad , the corruption & total unethical disrespect for the office of the Presidency. Could we all just find some civility & pride for this ongoing experiment we call the United States of America . I will keep on praying !
Since this is an impeachable offense, and if indeed Harris is ineligible to be President due to her parents not being US citizens at her birth, and I believe Nancy Pelosi would be the next in line if Biden were peached, does that put us in a position of checkmate? Either let him stay, or have Pelosi step in?
Mr. Biden is power hungry and greedy; got his son to do the dirty work and he takes 50% of the money.
Disgusting and unbelievable; you cannot make this stuff up. Mr. Biden is soooo dishonest.
First Remove every DemocRat (RED), then we can eliminate all RINO’s – the “old line” Republicans. Join the Trump Movement – The American Revolution 2.0!!! Become a Counter-Revolutionary!!! Stand-up for Our Republic!!!! Remove Every DemocRat!!!!!
The DemocRats, The Media, Teachers Unions, etc. try to make us believe they are invincible! They ARE NOT! Push back against the bullies!! Join the Trump Movement – The American Revolution 2.0!!! Become a Counter-Revolutionary!!! Stand-up for Our Republic!!!! Remove Every DemocRat!!!!!
Get our Children our of Public Schools and turn-off Mainstream Media! Become a Free American!! Join the Trump Movement – The American Revolution 2.0!!! Become a Counter-Revolutionary!!! Stand-up for Our Republic!!!! Remove Every DemocRat!!!!!
What is happening today is exactly why OUR Founders wrote and passed the 2nd Amendment!! If we are not willing to fight for OUR Country, we do not deserve to have it!! There are STRONG indications that the “Left/Communists/DemocRats are planning some sort/level of THE “Reign of Terror” when President Trump wins reelection!! Join the Trump Movement – The American Revolution Version 2.0!!! Become a Counter-Revolutionary!!! Stand-up for Our Republic!!!! Remove Every DemocRat!!!!!
If we all get out and VOTE, YES we, the true AMERICAN Citizens CAN win back the House and hold the Senate! Join the Trump Movement – The American Revolution 2.0!!! Become a Counter-Revolutionary!!! Stand-up for Our Republic!!!! Remove Every DemocRat!!!!!
Get Judge Barrett approved NOW!! Next, take all this CRAP directly to the Supreme Court. It is time for All Americans to “WAKE-UP” and TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!!!! Appoint General Flynn to head the FBI!! Join the Trump Movement – The American Revolution 2.0!!! Become a Counter-Revolutionary!!! Stand-up for Our Republic!!!! Remove Every DemocRat!!!!!
This has gone too far! Christopher Wray MUST be fired TODAY!! He has now proven himself to be a Communist Goon!!! Shame! Shame! Shame! Just as “Hanoi Jane”, Wray has NO RIGHT to call himself an American!!! It is time for All Americans to “WAKE-UP” and TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!! !! Join the Trump Movement – The American Revolution 2.0!!! Become a Counter-Revolutionary!!! Stand-up for Our Republic!!!! Remove Every DemocRat!!!!!
This is a prime example of just how corrupt our Gov’t has become. All the “insiders” have profited greatly while we have to fight over toilet paper! The distractions come one after another to keep us from noticing the treasonous crimes committed by the people we have elected. While some evil world gov’ts are out to see the U.S.A. fail, we have enemies within doing us daily harm, and Trump seems to be the only thing standing in their way! It’s scary and enraging and infuriating all at the same time.
NO JUSTICE NO PEACE ARE YOU HEARING BARR AND FBI IF YOU DO NOTHING THIS WAR WILL BE ON YOU
BRING A KNIFE TO OBAMA KNIFE FIGHT HE GAVE YOU WARNING
IF ANTIFA AND BLM CAN KILL AND BURN WHAT THEY HATE THE REST OF AMERICA CAN KILL AND BURN WHAT IT HATES
ANTIFA HAS A RIGHT TO BURN WHAT THEY HATE THE REST OF AMERICA CAN FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE
TIME TO BURN AND REMOVE CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, AND, ALL ANTI GLOBALEST NEWS MEDIA IF THEY KEEP WEPONIZING A FREE PRESS
What frustrates me is that nothing is ever done. Does any of these crimes ever get prosecuted? Seems like the left are never charged with their wrong doings. Plus the media not reporting it.
The dimocrats think they have the election won. Now they’re working on getting rid of Biden as soon as possible so Harris can take over!
Well doesn’t this just dot the “i” in corruption for Joe Biden. I guess Hilary didn’t get there with her hammer in time to destroy the HB computer. Take this and big mouth Adam Schiff who can you believe the tax payers are paying and couple it with news suppression-this is as corrupt as it gets. The FBI with Comie and the current FBI director are you kidding-who has confidence in the FB! I have even heard Joe B took 50% of HB money to interview the Rich Russian. Is this true? If so, Isn’t this a conflict of American interest? And why is JB as corrupt as he is placing the security of America at risk. American’s need to rise up and clean out the corrupt politicians. Enough talk!
When will the FBI change their name to the FBS. The only Guy I know of that never made a mistake was Jesus. Do they think they can never make a mistake and own up to it. Not sure what to do with the FBS, but I can tell you I won’t trust them to come to my rescue. Maybe my enemies rescue, but not the American people. There’s just too much BS in the FBS, I’m just a old fart, but if you screwed up and put me in charge, nobody would get a retirement nor would they be able to spew their BS on TV or social media without going to jail. Yes, they would have to actually sign a statement to defend and not twist what these college idiots think the People need/want. Just the truth and no BS, they’re supposed to serve, not be judge and jury. If I was this idiot Wray, I’d just walk away. You can’t fix stupid unless you can clean a house first and I don’t know whose house they’re cleaning. Seems they don’t like Trump or anybody that ruffles their feathers. Remember, they can’t be wrong, they’re the FBS. FLMAO, Good Luck with this Titanic, it’s sinking fast.
The head of the FBI needs to be fired first of all, if he sat on this information for almost a year, second the Big Tech Companies need to be broken up or at least not be able to sensor any post no matter what its content. It is very obvious they are DEMOCRATIC in support of BIDEN/ HARRIS definately SOCIALIST. get rid of the SWAMP CREATRES…CLEAR ALL THE WROTTEN CREATURES IN WASHINGTON DC. TRUMP FOR 4 MORE YEARS.
it’s time to put the Obama administration on trial and put to jail.
emailing my ‘goombahs’ is as far as I go with SOCIALIST media. I won’t give those a-holes the satisfaction. Satisfaction. A Rolling Stones song ?
In the above photo: it looks like Jeff Dunham’s “Walt” is trying to belt out a tune to the hypnotized ZOMBIES.
If Biden is willing to hush what his children are doing, is proof that he CANNOT be trusted!!
Absolutely correct. No doubt about it.
Absolutely right on. I do not now and have never trusted social media. They are getting away with censoring right now. Some sort of control will have to be used as we see they are out of control and getting away with murder essentially. Who the hell do they think they are?. They are essentially tyrants and getting worse. They are power mad and dishonest to say the least.
THIS SWAMP IS DEEPER THAN ANYONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED! IT HAS GOT TO HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. OF COURSE WE HAVE TERM LIMITS FOR PRESIDENTS, BUT NONE FOR THE SENATE OR CONGRESS. IT WOULD TAKE A MAJORITY OF EACH BRANCH TO PASS TERM LIMITS ON THEMSELVES. BUT THAT WOULD TAKE INTEGRITY THAT CERTAINLY WOULD NOT GIVE US ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS THIS. AFTER ALL IT’S A GET RICH, ABOVE THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTRY ATTITUDE. TOO MANY UN-ELECTED DECISION MAKERS ALSO. WE ALSO HAVE VOTERS WHO ARE UNINFORMED AND TOO LAZY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. OF COURSE WE HAVE ALLOWED LOBBYISTS AND OTHERS TO CORRUPT MANY IN OUR GOVERNMENT. SELL OUTS!
Time for dissolution of reg. 230. Time to look hard into anti-trust violations.
Tired of the Democrats gaslighting. Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining. They think we’re all stupid.
All the documents, and talks should be out way before now.
Cover ups and delays are obstruction to justice system but they don’t care. Or, if they are part of the criminal activities, they are hiding the truth for fear of being prosecuted. Or, DOJ is so corrupt that they have culpability to the criminal activities as well.
Deep state cabal is slowly becoming more exposed. God help us Lord. Don’t let the enemy win the election.
NOW we know what the SWAMP is and who its members are. They deserve penalties reserved for treasonous actions. We should show NO MERCY, even to past presidents who abused their office
The United States is being transformed into an unrecognizable dangerous, hostile place from within by our own government of elected and appointed people. As my dad used to say, “throw the bums out”. I am so proud to see so many young, black veterans running for congress and senate as republicans. They have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and are true patriots in my eyes. The media, which our brave soldiers have sacrificed lives and limbs so that they can have “free press”, have sold us a bill of deplorable goods. They, along with many Hollywood has beens, and every other progressive, have climbed on their lying, scheming band wagon, without knowing or caring about the truth. Like the young man in San Francisco who was attacked and lost 1 or 2 teeth, while demonstrating against the big tech companies said, that is what America will be like if the dems prevail. This is only the tip of the ice berg.
I never used twitter and no longer use face book for these and other obvious reasons. Their openly biased to conservative points of view and constantly try to move political thought to the left.Those who continue to use these platforms open themselves up to not only socialist propaganda but personal information theft.
The combined efforts of the mainstream media (including the social media giants) and the DNC to distort facts and skew public opinion are, in my opinion, acts of sedition!! These people have completely lost any semblance of moral or ethical conduct!!
Or, we could all do what I do…. just ignore social media and don’t patronize it. I am getting along just fine without it. Yeah, I know…. it’s too late for that. But early on, I figured there was no reason on earth that people needed to know every little aspect of my life.
We all got a taste of shady practices while the Clintons and Obama’s were in office. Look at what Hillary got away with. It’s only going to get worse under Biden with the Progressive Communist wing of the party pulling the strings.
In case you’re wondering why the Democrats moved to impeach Trump on such a flimsy charge, profiting politically from a phone call overheard by dozens of people, almost all of whom considered it innocuous, now you know.
The FBI has had the hard drive since November 2019. The Democrats have known since then that at some point tens of thousands of emails detailing Joe Biden’s corruption would surface, and an honest investigation into Biden would lead to the Clintons and Barack Obama and many others in positions of power both within and without our government.
Trump had to be stopped or neutered before those emails surfaced, and to a great extent he has been, from within and without the government. When they could no longer ignore Trump’s instructions, the upper management at DOJ and FBI dragged their feet, delaying investigations and information releases as long as possible, then leaked statements to the press contradicting whatever Trump has said. Meanwhile, the mainstream media either ignored the truth or actively subverted it.
But Trump survived. Impeachment wasn’t enough. They needed more…
COVID-19 took its first victim three weeks after Bill Gates’ Agenda 21/2030 Conference with the Chinese Communist Party, the WHO and CDC (including Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx). What was the last day of the conference about? Shutting down the world economy when an imaginary Chinese corona virus made the leap from another species and created a wordwide pandemic. Days after the conference what happened? A Chinese corona virus made the leap from another species and created a worldwide pandemic, which gave the conspirators the excuse they needed to eliminate Trump’s trump card – the economy.
Trump has a handful of supporters within the US Government, but if it wasn’t before, it should be obvious now the vast majority of our Federal employees, AKA public servants are actively trying to destroy him.
What an absolute mess!! We the people are paying the highest salaries and benefits to bureaucrats who are not representing the will of the people and who are not elected by us. This must not be tolerated! They must be held accountable for their actions. If laws have been violated then charges must follow so they can be sent to trial…this is essential to maintain the integrity of our judicial system. Also it has been reported that nearly 90% of all government employees are pro Democrat party and contribute accordingly…this must be remedied by equal employment opportunities whereby all those of various political parties should be fairly represented. Discrimination by political parties can not and must not be tolerated! An investigation of governmental hiring practices is needed more then the constant wasting of money by the current congress on malevolent witch hunting impeachment hearings and the like. A constitutional convention is needed for term limits and to address how best to clear the swamp.
Everyone should view the movie “the creepy line” on prime video (it’s free) which explains just what social media is up to.
I’d like to know what the hell the FBI was doing with the laptop for a year, unless of course they were in on it ?
This bufoon Biden and his sleaze ball son Hunter are father and son combo from the liberal loonie party// Biden was and is a crook and will sell the interests of the USA for his own self gain// Check out what he stole when working for crooked OBAMA// Obama got rich in 8 yrs. selling off the USA and Biden was worse// His brother made a lot of $$ in central Amerca and Biden pocketed whatever he wanted at our expense// The FBI was crooked under Comey and its time for a change// Elect the TRUMPSTER or Biden will sell the White House and his soul//
I do e-mails and have some friends on Facebook. That’s it for social media. I don’t have to use it, and I won’t use it when ethics are being sacrificed for click-baits.
There are a lot of forces working against the American people. We know the national news media and the rest of the democrat party are suppressing the Biden corruption – they’re in it together. However, the FBI has remained silent and now might be in on the corruption as well. The FBI was clearly on the democrat side during the fake Trump/Russia Collusion hoax! I wonder if the FBI isn’t trying to deep six the Biden e-mails?. These e-mails need to be distributed far and wide!
Early last year Steve Hilton on FNC “Next Revolution” mentioned the close Ties that Biden had with China. This is nothing new except the truth is finally coming to light! As my nana used to say the truth never stays buried forever. (Liars always get found out) The Democrats desperate need to get rid of President Trump should be an indication that we are nearing the very damaging truth of how deep this conspiracy against the USA really goes. I personally feel the Democrats are hiding something very serious they do not want us to know!
Is this media blackout way too blatantly biased to not have a hidden purpose? Are they actually setting the stage for something else. Just curious.