Analysis: Trump’s war against social media networks is largely about the fight itself
President Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House on May 14. By Philip Bump Philip Bump National correspondent focused largely on the numbers behind politics Email Bio Follow May 16 at 1:41 PM There’s a quote in an article in the Atlantic from a senior campaign official for President Trump that seems as though it encapsulates this phase of the Trump presidency as surely as “seriously but not literally” served to describe Trump’s assent.
This is probably the appropriate lens through which to view Trump's recent war on social media networks. After his photo was banned, Trump Jr. began collecting other stories of people facing discrimination at the hands of social media companies. This week, the White House weaponized this idea, adding a form to the official White House website asking people to share their stories if they “faced political bias online.” Those choosing to fill out the form are asked for examples of biased behavior on the part of social-media companies — once they assure the White House that they are U.S.
The emergence of this form overlapped with another free-speech move by the Trump administration. In the wake of the massacre of Muslim worshipers at mosques in New Zealand, the U.S. declined to endorse a nonbinding statement targeting online extremism. Eighteen other countries joined Facebook, Twitter and Google in endorsing the statement. The administration cited free speech concerns as a rationale for declining to participate.
There’s been no evidence presented of a broad effort to target conservatives or Republicans on these platforms. It’s hard to see how collecting anecdotes through that White House form will prove any such conspiracy, any more than the administration’s effort to collect stories about crimes committed by immigrants is a robust effort to prove Trump’s case about the dangers of new arrivals to the country.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Tencent first quarter profit beats estimates as FinTech trumps mobile gamingTencent Holdings Ltd booked a 17% profit rise for the three months ended March, ...
Baca lebih lajut »
For Chick-fil-A, impact trumps 'any political or cultural war' when it comes to controversial donationsChick-fil-A's charitable donations have been subject to scrutiny for years. The head of Chick-fil-A's charitable giving explains its strategy.
Baca lebih lajut »
Trump ramps up war against 'political bias' with new social media reporting toolThe tool will allow members of the public to report possible political censorship on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, platforms that Pres. Trump has often accused of silencing right-wing voices.
Baca lebih lajut »
China censorship on trade war throws off quants’ social media algorithmsChina’s censorship of Trump’s tariff threat last Monday underlines the limits of social media algorithms used by quants to track investor sentiment.
Baca lebih lajut »
Analysis | Trump’s own top economic adviser gives lie to his trade war rhetoricIn an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Kudlow undercut the president’s claims — and acknowledged the very real cost of the trade war.
Baca lebih lajut »
Analysis | Trump ratchets up his China trade war — and the disinformation about itAnalysis: Trump ratchets up his China trade war — and the disinformation about it
Baca lebih lajut »
Analysis | Republicans are raising the white flag on their trade war with TrumpOf all the ways Trump has remade the Republican Party into his own, none stings more for Republican lawmakers than trade policy
Baca lebih lajut »
Analysis | Trump is taxing Americans to support farmers struggling from his trade warConsumers are paying billions more a month, some of which is then given to red-state farmers.
Baca lebih lajut »
Analysis | Why U.S. allies aren’t rushing to back Trump’s China trade warEven Trump allies, like Hungary's Viktor Orban, realize they have more to gain by staying out of things.
Baca lebih lajut »