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Summary:

Concerns About Social Media: The author draws parallels between concerns that led to discussions about banning TikTok in the U.S. and the current state of X (formerly Twitter).

X as a Threat: The author argues that X, under Elon Musk’s ownership, poses a threat to Canadian democracy.

Increased Racism and Misinformation: The platform is described as having become more racist and a source of increasing misinformation since Musk’s acquisition.

Content Moderation: Musk’s leadership is criticized for gutting content moderation, unbanning alt-right figures, and turning the platform into a partisan propaganda machine.

“Free Speech Absolutism”: Musk’s defense of his actions using “free speech absolutism” is dismissed as untenable.

Canadian Law: Canadian freedom of expression law is noted to be more robust than that of the U.S., allowing for reasonable limits on speech.

Foreign Influence: The author suggests that X’s current conduct would not be tolerated if it were aligned with a government like China.

Musk and Trump: Musk’s close ties to Donald Trump and the potential for pro-Trump propaganda targeting Canadian voters are highlighted as a specific threat.

Echoes of the Broadcasting Act: The author draws a parallel to the Broadcasting Act of 1958, which restricted foreign ownership of broadcasters to protect Canadian discourse.

Message to Social Media Companies: Banning X would send a message to other social media companies about their responsibilities to Canadians.

Call to Action: The author urges the current Prime Minister to ban X before the next election.

Trump’s annexation comments: Notes Trump’s comments about annexing Canada.

X as an Anti-Canadian Propaganda Machine: Concludes that X should be treated as a real threat.

  • John RichardEnglish
    2•4 hours ago

    Education hasn’t worked seeing how fascism has successfully taken hold through american social media, and no transparency over algorithms.

    This is because the very same people that were pro-oligarchy were previously seen by the left as being friendlies that they should entrust because of their big dollar donations. It is time to take money out of politics. I didn’t say you shouldn’t regulate social media, especially transparency of the code & algorithms.

    And it’s not like only dumb uneducated people who have been lured into it. Those with educated backgrounds are just as easily influenced. That there are antivax nurses tells you everything there is to know about how effective education is.

    I’ve known plenty of dumb nurses even before the pandemic. I’ve known alcoholic ones, drug-addicted ones, etc. To blame it on social media is ignoring everything else. Let’s not forget the number of nurses & even doctors that believe in a magical sky creature controlling what happens on Earth.

    • @[email protected]English
      1•26 minutes ago

      We are exposed to the same material as the people who choose to believe them. We aren’t anymore special or smart than anyone else when it comes to material we have available or see when people smarter than us like doctors can choose to believe it.

      You say take money out of politics and I agree, but money is currently in politics and these type of talks of education while true are not effective enough in a system that has money in politics. And social media is currently run by oligarchs. These type of changes will take decades to undo. Education alone is not enough to combat the problem right now.

      And as you said dumb people were dumb before, but what has drastically changed is what dumb people in masses choose to believe leading to an increase uptick in harm to society. First it was flat earth people laughed about. Then antivax and now support of dictators.

      People keep underestimating the power of disinformation and how quickly it takes root, but how even harder it is to deprogram.