Social Media Bans: Protecting Society or a Threat to Free Speech?
5The silencing of Donald Trump on Twitter may have been welcomed by his detractors, but it raised important questions about freedom of speech and the power of Big Tech. Social media companies are under pressure to combat the spread of disinformation, yet at a time when authoritarian governments around the world are trying to stifle dissenting opinions, what kind of precedent has been set by the banning of Trump and other right-wing voices from these platforms? What are the ramifications of Facebook declaring Myanmar a “Temporary High-Risk Location” and banning a page linked to a military-owned TV network after the recent coup? And how is all this viewed from Hong Kong, where media freedom is under threat? Panelists include Maria Ressa, Alejandro Reyes, and Craig Silverman. Moderated by FCC First Vice President Eric Wishart.