> I used to be a free speech absolutist myself back in Snowden times, but having seeing the flip side of anonymous, unverified, amplified and maliciously orchestrated communication of lies by unknown actors myself over the past few years
This is a strange lesson to take away, not least of all because we've seen a lot of egregious, potent, and dangerous lies from credible, verified institutions including the former POTUS, prominent newspapers, and other important cultural institutions. Further, it seems strange to suggest that "anonymous lies" are somehow more dangerous than lies by verified parties--pretty much by definition this is incorrect since a lie by some credible institution does more damage than a lie by someone with no credibility at all.
I don't know how someone can look at American politics and politicians (never mind cultural institutions) over the last ~decade and conclude that these people are fit to regulate Americans' speech. Indeed, how can anyone praise democracy without also valuing its prerequisite: free speech. I suspect people don't want a democracy, they want their own candidate to be elected--hardly a noble or democratic sentiment.
This is a strange lesson to take away, not least of all because we've seen a lot of egregious, potent, and dangerous lies from credible, verified institutions including the former POTUS, prominent newspapers, and other important cultural institutions. Further, it seems strange to suggest that "anonymous lies" are somehow more dangerous than lies by verified parties--pretty much by definition this is incorrect since a lie by some credible institution does more damage than a lie by someone with no credibility at all.
I don't know how someone can look at American politics and politicians (never mind cultural institutions) over the last ~decade and conclude that these people are fit to regulate Americans' speech. Indeed, how can anyone praise democracy without also valuing its prerequisite: free speech. I suspect people don't want a democracy, they want their own candidate to be elected--hardly a noble or democratic sentiment.