The Post-2016 Censorship of ‘Disinformation’ — a Vast, Tangled Web

[jimnyc]

I'm not as sure that this was some sort of conspiracy working together - as much as I think they decided to take things up a notch and true colors have been exposed.

---

Bokhari: The Post-2016 Censorship of ‘Disinformation’ — a Vast, Tangled Web

Thanks to leaks, lawsuits, the Twitter Files, and congressional inquiry, the sheer size and complexity of the “disinformation” industry is starting to be exposed.

Enormous in scope, the censorship machine that has made a mockery of the First Amendment was driven by powerful forces that went far beyond the Silicon Valley tech companies themselves — though they are major culprits.





Corporate media companies, billionaire philanthropists and foundations, academics, associations, and the deep state all joined forces to create a vast, international web of organizations that conspired to suppress Americans’ free speech rights, and the free speech of people around the globe in the form of so-called “disinformation” experts.

The tech companies, uncertain about the U-turn on their previously-stated commitments to free speech, initially tried to hide what they were doing, and had to be exposed: Breitbart News’ publication of leaks from inside Google, such as “The Good Censor” and YouTube’s search blacklists, gave the public a glimpse behind the curtain.

However, as time went on, the censorship machine began conducting its affairs out in the open, proudly trumpeting the crusade against “disinformation” online.

Virtually nonexistent before 2016, the cottage industry of “disinformation studies” exploded following Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton. In the weeks following Trump’s win, the media was crying foul; blaming hoax news stories and Russian bots masquerading as Trump supporters for the defeat of their favored candidate.

Rest - https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2023/...t-tangled-web/

[Gunny]

I'm not as sure that this was some sort of conspiracy working together - as much as I think they decided to take things up a notch and true colors have been exposed.

---

Bokhari: The Post-2016 Censorship of ‘Disinformation’ — a Vast, Tangled Web

Thanks to leaks, lawsuits, the Twitter Files, and congressional inquiry, the sheer size and complexity of the “disinformation” industry is starting to be exposed.

Enormous in scope, the censorship machine that has made a mockery of the First Amendment was driven by powerful forces that went far beyond the Silicon Valley tech companies themselves — though they are major culprits.





Corporate media companies, billionaire philanthropists and foundations, academics, associations, and the deep state all joined forces to create a vast, international web of organizations that conspired to suppress Americans’ free speech rights, and the free speech of people around the globe in the form of so-called “disinformation” experts.

The tech companies, uncertain about the U-turn on their previously-stated commitments to free speech, initially tried to hide what they were doing, and had to be exposed: Breitbart News’ publication of leaks from inside Google, such as “The Good Censor” and YouTube’s search blacklists, gave the public a glimpse behind the curtain.

However, as time went on, the censorship machine began conducting its affairs out in the open, proudly trumpeting the crusade against “disinformation” online.

Virtually nonexistent before 2016, the cottage industry of “disinformation studies” exploded following Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton. In the weeks following Trump’s win, the media was crying foul; blaming hoax news stories and Russian bots masquerading as Trump supporters for the defeat of their favored candidate.

Rest - https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2023/...t-tangled-web/

Corporate media companies, billionaire philanthropists and foundations, academics, associations, and the deep state all joined forces to create a vast, international web of organizations that conspired to suppress Americans’ free speech rights, and the free speech of people around the globe in the form of so-called “disinformation” experts.

I'm thinking not. Unintended consequences. IMO, all of the above operate individually on self-interest. Power-freaks don't generally get together to share power, each wanting it all unto itself. Each has the same ultimate goal of misleading the sheeple to follow (in the name of democracy) until they can be fleeced.

When all roads lead to Rome, it's not hard to build a case for some vast conspiracy.

[revelarts]

My 2 cents

People work to together when their interest align.
Some work together with others when the money is right despite ideologies or overall purposes. they don't really care what about rights, ideals or consequences.
This creates conspiracies of interest. Not necessarily a conspiracy of groups of people on ONE dark mission.

Facebook and other tech leadership are socially left woke leaning scumbags. And control freaks.
They'll do what they want & join with other of the same mindset in politics and academia on those socially left woke issues.
Using their individual points of power to further those ends and help others where they can.

Many Politicians are opportunist and will use whatever anyone will give them to move the power&money balls their way. those like Hillary don't give a d@mn about lgbtxyz or christians or the constitution or much of anything but her own power. And being with the groups in power.
And many of them are on the WEF bandwagon which they think will bring them the kind of control they do really want.

Some of the academicians are crazy and believe their own woke socialist crap. And assume that others ...politicians and tech corps, other corps etc... should all be on the band wagon and don't see ANY problem suppressing what they sincerely consider others "harmful speech".

Many Gov't Spooks, Alphabet agencies and Gov't bureaucrats have their own agendas (and are also connected with the WEF crap) they've worked across decades to control public narratives in various forms and take EVERY opportunity to increase that kind of reach. An Argument can be made that they've done so since before the CHURCH Commission in the 60s when they admitted having CIA and other agencies working at or with ABC, CBS, NBC and the major newspapers.
But thier narrative control and speech control efforts have been especially overt since 911. Where muslims and socalled supporters became "suspects" for their speech.
So they made excuses to them shut down in various ways. Also militia groups after Waco and OKcity bombings.
And again when Trump won, all of sudden "Russian" speech on the web needed to be controlled and investigated.... "to keep us safe".

EACH EXCUSE simply opened the door to more gov't/corporate control of ALL speech.
It's not a slippery slope just been 1 OPEN DOOR opening wider every year.
Once folks decide Militia & Muslim speech was "too Dangerous"
At that point there's never been any real LINE not to cross.
After the gov't says ""this" speech is too dangerous". At that point "this" is just a place holder for anything else they want to censors or control.
"for our safety"

[jimnyc]

I don't think this web or conspiracy was having weekly meetings or anything like that. But went from our lovely government directly to our TV media and social media... and the more than jumped onboard, the more that followed suit.

I DO think that some at the top try to create this shit from the beginning. Kinda like we saw in the UK and trying to trick the public into staying home and new strains and crap like that.

[Gunny]

My 2 cents

People work to together when their interest align.
Some work together with others when the money is right despite ideologies or overall purposes. they don't really care what about rights, ideals or consequences.
This creates conspiracies of interest. Not necessarily a conspiracy of groups of people on ONE dark mission.

Facebook and other tech leadership are socially left woke leaning scumbags. And control freaks.
They'll do what they want & join with other of the same mindset in politics and academia on those socially left woke issues.
Using their individual points of power to further those ends and help others where they can.

Many Politicians are opportunist and will use whatever anyone will give them to move the power&money balls their way. those like Hillary don't give a d@mn about lgbtxyz or christians or the constitution or much of anything but her own power. And being with the groups in power.
And many of them are on the WEF bandwagon which they think will bring them the kind of control they do really want.

Some of the academicians are crazy and believe their own woke socialist crap. And assume that others ...politicians and tech corps, other corps etc... should all be on the band wagon and don't see ANY problem suppressing what they sincerely consider others "harmful speech".

Many Gov't Spooks, Alphabet agencies and Gov't bureaucrats have their own agendas (and are also connected with the WEF crap) they've worked across decades to control public narratives in various forms and take EVERY opportunity to increase that kind of reach. An Argument can be made that they've done so since before the CHURCH Commission in the 60s when they admitted having CIA and other agencies working at or with ABC, CBS, NBC and the major newspapers.
But thier narrative control and speech control efforts have been especially overt since 911. Where muslims and socalled supporters became "suspects" for their speech.
So they made excuses to them shut down in various ways. Also militia groups after Waco and OKcity bombings.
And again when Trump won, all of sudden "Russian" speech on the web needed to be controlled and investigated.... "to keep us safe".

EACH EXCUSE simply opened the door to more gov't/corporate control of ALL speech.
It's not a slippery slope just been 1 OPEN DOOR opening wider every year.
Once folks decide Militia & Muslim speech was "too Dangerous"
At that point there's never been any real LINE not to cross.
After the gov't says ""this" speech is too dangerous". At that point "this" is just a place holder for anything else they want to censors or control.
"for our safety"

This creates conspiracies of interest. Not necessarily a conspiracy of groups of people on ONE dark mission.

Been my argument all along. You just want to find something wrong with it. I await you arguing with your own words just to contradict me

[fj1200]

Not necessarily a conspiracy of groups of people on ONE dark mission.

So it could just mean people who were, allegedly, smart and came up with a bunch of money somehow think that means they're smart in other areas too?

[Gunny]

So it could just mean people who were, allegedly, smart and came up with a bunch of money somehow think that means they're smart in other areas too?

I get the point to this statement. Not sure how it fits.

Success is toxic. Unfortunately for those you describe and those affected by them, being good at something does not translate across the board.

As bad: People who think because you possess a skillset that it translates over to what they want. Being an electrician does NOT mean I can fix your freakin' shower leak