The former guy is suing Facebook, Twitter, and Google for violating his 1st Amendment rights by keeping him off their platforms.
Perhaps someone should remind him that they’re private companies to which the 1st Amendment doesn’t apply.
Presumably Trump or his lawyers know this. The purpose of the lawsuit isn’t really to win it. It’s to give him more ammo for his incessant grifting—raising more money from followers who are eager to show their support for him, now by “sticking it” to Facebook, Twitter, and Google.
The irony here is that in many respects Facebook, Twitter, and Google are mini-governments. They’re monopolies with extraordinary power over both the economy and our personal lives. They should be brought under control—but by antitrust laws and government action, not by a failed president who has used them to sow lies and inspire sedition.
Robert B. Reich is the chancellor’s professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley and former secretary of labor under the Clinton administration. Time Magazine named him one of the 10 most effective Cabinet secretaries of the 20th century. He is also a founding editor of The American Prospect magazine and chairman of Common Cause. His film, Inequality for All, was released in 2013. Follow him on Twitter: @RBReich.
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Trump to the barricades
Posted on July 8, 2021 by Robert Reich
The former guy is suing Facebook, Twitter, and Google for violating his 1st Amendment rights by keeping him off their platforms.
Perhaps someone should remind him that they’re private companies to which the 1st Amendment doesn’t apply.
Presumably Trump or his lawyers know this. The purpose of the lawsuit isn’t really to win it. It’s to give him more ammo for his incessant grifting—raising more money from followers who are eager to show their support for him, now by “sticking it” to Facebook, Twitter, and Google.
The irony here is that in many respects Facebook, Twitter, and Google are mini-governments. They’re monopolies with extraordinary power over both the economy and our personal lives. They should be brought under control—but by antitrust laws and government action, not by a failed president who has used them to sow lies and inspire sedition.
This post originally appeared at RobertReich.org.
Robert B. Reich is the chancellor’s professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley and former secretary of labor under the Clinton administration. Time Magazine named him one of the 10 most effective Cabinet secretaries of the 20th century. He is also a founding editor of The American Prospect magazine and chairman of Common Cause. His film, Inequality for All, was released in 2013. Follow him on Twitter: @RBReich.