Not-So-Partisan Free Speech

Big Tech is under scrutiny once again for free speech

By Darryl Weng

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In the past few years, internet companies such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter have attempted to find the right recipe to protect and contain freedom of speech on the internet. But, political divisions have pushed around business models and pressured legal actions to win the battle over interpretation of the freedom of speech. And, so, haplessly, Big Tech found themselves stuck in a political match.

In the boxing match between the Democratic Party and GOP, the Democrats threw the first punch. Taking their rhetoric and government-regulating agendas into social media, Democrats pushed for censorship of what they labeled as “disgusting” and “offensive.” There were those in the boxing stadium who were ecstatic, but the quiet viewers of the fight were displeased and irritated. As a result, the GOP made attempts to fight back. Punches and kicks were thrown. Most didn’t deal a blow to the Democrats, such as new social media platforms supported and funded largely by GOP affiliates. The ones that did force Democrats into the corner were legal actions such as laws proposed by Texas and Florida to attack censorship on internet platforms.

As the major parties exchanged blows, Big Tech constantly changed bets on who would win, attempting to stay in favor at all times. But escalation over debates regarding Section 230 has now changed the bet game.

Long-awaited and at last, The Supreme Court will hear the lawsuit against Google by the Gonzalez family. The results of this case would either push Big Tech to monitor their internet services even more through censorship or present no doubt that Big Tech has immunity against harmful information presented on their platforms originating from third-parties.

The outcome could lean completely into the Democrats’ favor and nearly end GOP’s efforts to end the curbing of free speech on internet platforms. In other words, this discourages Big Tech from betting on the GOP’s victory and only pressurizes Big Tech to sustain their censorship and internet service moderating.

But why does GOP’s loss matter? What was once a divide between partisan interests will now be settled with a court case, regardless of the decision.

The issue, as was always, is free speech. The debate around free speech is centered around partisan interests, but free speech is also a centerpiece of American values. While the GOP has supported and advocated for many controversial issues lying deep in a tradition, religion, and supposed moral values that young members of a modern society cannot stand or understand, the GOP’s support of free speech should be universal. There should be no question and no wavering when free speech is in discussion. As we are a part of a modern society, we have evolved into taking in the internet as an inseparable part of our life, so much so that individual rights, livelihoods, and morals must be taken into account on the internet. Free speech is an important value on internet platforms that should be treated with respect - just as the Founding Fathers treated the newly founded American values.

The Democrats understand how the censorship plays into their agenda, which is upsetting that they are consciously acting against American values. But, the lawsuit steered by the Gonzalez family is ignoring the broader consequences. The simple fact that the lawsuit was proposed and heard by the nation only sends of warning shots towards Big Tech. As money and corporate success is what matters in such an industry, Big Tech is willing to do anything to avoid monetary loss - they will not shy away from spending money to ensure they are in future’s good hands. The least Supreme Court can do is side with Google, even though damage has already been dealt.