Funniest thing you’ll hear all day: “We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and we work hard to protect and defend these values around the world.”
“When asked about the emails, Facebook confirmed it blocked the page after it received a legal order from the Turkish government.”
You ever notice how the social media giants seem eager to enforce foreign laws, such as Pakistan’s Sharia blasphemy laws and now this from the Turkish government, but you never hear about them insisting on the freedom of speech?
Remember also that Facebook’s Vice President Joel Kaplan, who played a role in this decision, went to Pakistan in 2017 and assured the Pakistani government that Facebook would remove “anti-Islam” content. Since material opposing jihad terror is routinely smeared as “anti-Islam,” it would all be gone, or at very least, shadowbanned beyond the access of virtually everyone. That’s the policy Facebook has followed since then.
“Facebook bowed to demands from Turkey to block one of its military opponents,” by Igor Bonifacic, Engadget, February 24, 2021 (thanks to Henry):
When Turkey launched its Afrin offensive in early 2018 to dislodge Kurdish minorities from Northern Syria, the country ordered Facebook to block the page of a prominent militia group in the area known as the People’s Protection Units or YPG. Forced to make a decision, the company prioritized staying online over objecting to censorship, new internal emails obtained by ProPublica show.
Since then, the social media giant has blocked users in Turkey from accessing the YPG’s Facebook page. Facebook complied with the order even though, like the US government, it does not consider the group a terrorist organization.
“… We are in favor of geo-blocking YPG content if the prospects of a full-service blockage are great,” the team that accessed the situation wrote to Joel Kaplan, the company’s vice-president of global public policy. “Geo-blocking the YPG is not without risk — activists outside of Turkey will likely notice our actions, and our decision may draw unwanted attention to our overall geo-blocking policy.”
The subsequent discussion was short. When Kaplan told Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and CEO Mark Zuckerberg he agreed with the recommendation, Sandberg sent a single-sentence response. “I am fine with this,” she said.
When asked about the emails, Facebook confirmed it blocked the page after it received a legal order from the Turkish government. “We strive to preserve voice for the greatest number of people. There are, however, times when we restrict content based on local law even if it does not violate our community standards,” Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone told ProPublica. “In this case, we made the decision based on our policies concerning government requests to restrict content and our international human rights commitments. Publicly, Facebook has also said free speech is one of its core tenets. “We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and we work hard to protect and defend these values around the world,” it said in a recent blog post on Turkey….
Infidel says
Funny how these social media companies, who have no qualms about censoring people in the US starting from President Trump, try to claim to foreign governments that they support free speech. Except that it was one thing when they were quietly censoring conservatives, but once they banned President Trump, the entire world took notice
In the meantime, they’re more than happy to be willing accomplices of regimes in Ankara, Islamabad, Beijing and other regimes that they ideologically endorse
Keith O says
What I find to be just a little disturbing is that Mark Suckarseburg who is a Jew is sucking mudslime arse by blocking anything that tells the truth about Islam because it breaches their “community standards” but at the same time allows live stream of people getting shot in robberies, kids doing self harm and other weird shite that somehow is ok. As well as banning anyone who challenges what they are doing.
Of course it all boils down to money. Suckarseburg would shaft his own mother if it got him more money and power.
He reminds me of the villain in the James Bond movie, “The world is not enough”.
mortimer says
Truly. Some of the oligarchs undermining freedom of expression and manipulating governments today are reminiscent of Bond movie villains. They have too much money and power for the good of the people.
James Lincoln says
Keith O.,
Interestingly, I thought of Tony Montana in “Scarface” (1983) “The World is Yours”…
Keith O says
James, The difference being that Tony Montana had some principles!
mortimer says
Since jihad is the MOST IMPORTANT PILLAR of Islam, then it would ‘anti-Islam’ for someone to criticize jihadic terrorism.
According the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we have the right to be critical of anything, including to be critical of religious teachings.
JimJFox says
Ha! So much for the UDHR. The word ‘theoretically’ must be inserted to get to the truth.
Terry Gain says
And we even have a God-given right to criticize evil ideologies that purport to be religions that are objectively evil.
somehistory says
“Afrin”? Like nasal spray?
If the U.S. government demands (asks) that an American be banned or censored, denying Freedom of speech, and the company complies, the company is acting as an agent of the government, and the action is Un-Constitutional.
As in, what some are demanding that FOX, OANN, Newsmax, be banned from the platforms they use…
If the companies comply with the demand by the government, this will be an illegal action.
So, is it illegal when they give in to the demand by a foreign government to ban a person or group, infringing on Freedom of speech?
Will they hesitate to ban an American after this, or easily comply, believing they will get away with doing something illegal?
Infidel says
The demand that Fox be banned is bizarre, given that the same CNN is in awe of people like Chris Wallace and Neil Cavuto. Fox has been hemorrhaging viewers to Newsmax and OANN: since November 2nd, I’ve been watching either of those 2, and don’t even watch Tucker these days. Fox is trying to make themselves more interesting by increasing Tucker’s profile, but accompanied as it is by the ending of Lou Dobbs’ show, it’s meaningless.
The 2 Congresspeople who pushed this are both sponsored by the companies that they’ve been trying to get the government to petition to ban these 3 channels. For me, it doesn’t matter: I know how woke they are, and have cut the cord: I only pay Comcast b’cos they’re the sole broadband provider in my apartment, but that too for internet only. I watch 4 Newsmax shows on weekdays on their own website newsmaxtv.com, and I’m watching CPAC live on Rumble. OANN should do what Newsmax does, and livestream on their own website or on Rumble, so that people can watch them live w/o paying woke companies like Comcast, Cox, AT&T, Spectrum, et al
The worst part of it is that they have the courts in their pocket. The Federalist Society needs to be confronted on the vetting that they did in giving us Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett: these 3 have pretty much handed over power to the Left, and Clarence Thomas is the only Justice that I can even watch these days, and who knows how much time he has left? Like I noted yesterday, while President Trump competently did the things that he personally has an expertise in, be it in USMCA, the wall, the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy or the Quad, he totally blew it when he had to depend on others. Be it Paul Ryan and Tom Price on ending Obamacare, or on the Federalist Society for his Justices
James Lincoln says
Infidel,
You mentioned that you’re okay with Justice Clarence Thomas.
What about Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch?
Infidel says
Alito yes. Gorsuch no. Gorsuch was one of those who refused to hear election challenges
James Lincoln says
I agree, Infidel.
somehistory says
I saw today that a documentary about Justice Thomas has been taken down during this “black history month.”
He is under fire for his comments about the case that was dismissed by the Court, as though he advocated for Mr. Trump to be reinstalled and biden to go out on his ear. Which, of ourse, he was not doing.
Justice Alito seems to be of the same mind, just not as outspoken as Justice Thomas. Scalia is certainly missed by those who value Truth and Justice.
Kavanaugh has not said enough for me to be convinced where he would stand on the really important things…except that not standing with Thomas and Alito on this most recent case says a whole lot.,, he ditched Truth and went with the fake “justices.”
Who can know for a certainty that dems are not putting pressure on a lot of people to cancel the rights of people like Justice Thomas to be heard; going after news companies is a way of silencing him and others who wish to be heard because cnn, nbc, cbs, abc, certainly won’t allow any they consider their enemies…or the enemies of the current “admin” or even just those who wish to share a different view…to speak and be heard by the general public.
gravenimage says
Fox is still *far* too conservative for the cancel culture leftists.
mortimer says
After stealing the election, and banning tens of thousands of conservatives, Dorsey says he is for freedom of expression. A hypocrite. A total liar.
mortimer says
Is Zuckerberg in favor of freedom of expression? This is news to us all.
Terry Gain says
Zuckerborg is clearly in favor of freedom. His freedom to make money.
mortimer says
I meant Zuckerberg, but Dorsey is worse.
James Lincoln says
mortimer,
Dorsey just “looks” worse – Zuckerberg is just as bad…
Westman says
In todays world, much evil is committed in the name of, “Maximizing return to Shareholders”, without regard to its social effects. The tech giants can’t, despite any protestations to the contrary, escape being locked into it after issuing stock.
“Don’t Be Evil” as a corporate mantra is utterly hilarious…
Clifford Fodor says
“You cannot serve two masters. You will either love the one and hate the other or you will hate the one and love other.”
mortimer says
If Facebook is ‘working hard’ to defend freedom of expression by banning people and suppressing their speech, then it seems they are not defending the freedom of expression of anyone but those with whom they agree.
Freedom of expression means freedom for the views with which you do NOT agree.
Ed Lee says
I cancelled my Facebook account when Zuckerberg asked the European union to tell him how they wanted Facebook censored, and that he would comply. He’s a pathetic doormat.
gravenimage says
Facebook bows to Turkey’s demands to block one of its military opponents
……………..
I wish I could say this surprises…
Christopher Watson Watson says
This is what happens when you give a young man everything he wants. He really needs his mummy to wipe his botty and tell him to be a good boy.
born saturday says
censorship is not only in facebook it reigns over the total of the internet… regardless of the way and the means to block anyone who annoyes islam or annoyes the left commies that dominate the internet…. the truth is censored and the internet has become a hypnotical propaganda of commies muslims and those who cooperate with them. the manipulation of the public opinion on all of the important issues that are raised is a fact and anyone disturbing this hypnoses is ultimately banned and cencored to achieve this goal… the internet has become litlle different than the television, and even though the different opinions still exist, promoting the truth and expressing the different opinions to a wider public will never be free again as long as the same corrupt organisations managers and moderators remain in their post… they have all agreed of the manufactured truth they produce that must have lust for islam and justify only the left the commies the immigrants and the gloabalist agenda… all of the above have formed an alliance against the truth against the freedom of speech… the establisment would never survive otherwise as the truths exposed otherwise would cause it to collapse… freedom of speech is the number one enemy of the establishments all round the world…..
the nomadic, toundra way of the turkish usually to ban someone they do not have the authority to ban on their own, in a foreign country or in a foreign organisation is traditionally to bribe in order to do it… but i have seen in greece specifically a series of ways to ban and tackle anyone speaking against them with endless trolls with multiple accounts with any internet trick there is in order to silence anyone speaking against them…….and that inside their main enemy country…. turkey is big on the internet and on the intelligence… its internationaly present… but it is the establisment of each country that drives cesorship and supports turkey for economic reasons… in greece a law of censorship has been recently voted for in the parliament, one to mostly protect the illegal muslim immigrants and their barbaric islamist culture that is promoted within europe….. mostly to protect them as it is them that mostly are exposed for their practises and barbaric culture. this is the big surprise it seems it will be, for many, the main surprise in their life in europe…. the rise of islam, its expansionist invasion…
there would be many to argue that if islam had really invaded europe wouldn’t the establisment of europe be against them. the answer is the establisment will turn against the islamic invasion when it serves it better after waves of massacres that will give the establishment rights to install martial law and abolish all the freedoms and rights we once had in europe in order to tackle the problem it created…. the establisments in those countries know the results of this invasion and have practically been part of the plan in order to diminish the freedoms in the future and bring the new world order….
Boycott Turkey says
What Facebook is doing is helping Turkey cover up its Genocide of the Kurds in Afrin by suppressing the truth But it don’t surprise me Twitter Facebook are trash I don’t use them deleted them months ago it’s just sick there’s no justice for the Kurds Turkey is systematically Genociding the Kurds and world does nothing my guess now with Biden in power he will be influenced by ilhan Omar to allow Turkey to commit more Genocides on Kurds Armenians and others.
Terry Gain says
Boycott Turkey
Biden is non compos mentis. Obama is still calling the shots (and Jill is giving them) but yes America will not stand in the way of Turkey. Obama has a perfect track record of facilitating the expansion of his father’s “religion”.
somehistory says
Once upon a time, in a small island country just 90 miles south of Florida, the people had a “Constitution” much like the Constitution of the U.S.
Then, one day, a dictator took control of the little island nation and it no longer resembles what might be described as having the “freedom” to speak, or hear differing opinions, or know what is really Truth.
Usually in a “revolution,” the guys taking over, ***attack*** the media…radio, television, newspapers, and only allow what they want people to hear to reach the public’s ears. Then, they announce that they have taken over and everyone will do as they command.
fb, twit, and the ones most people living now grew up, or old, listening to….nbc, abc, cbs…seemed to have seen the guys coming and decided they liked these new guys better and didn’t wait to be ***attacked***.
Will it go here as far as it did in the little island south of Florida? I believe it will. Mainly because I believe what the Bible says is going to happen on this earth very soon.
john smith says
Somehistory,
I also believe what the Bible says is going to happen, that is something I’m absolutely certain of. There is no doubt about it that those Biblical prophets could foresee the future, as they have proven themselves time and time again. How they could do it is something way beyond me.
somehistory says
john smith
Knowing others have faith is encouraging
The Bible tells us how the prophets could foretell things that would happen. One Verse to read is 2 Peter 1:20-21 where it says, “men spoke from God as they were carried along by Holy Spirit.”
And Revelation 1:1 where it says that God gave Jesus the revelation, Who gave to an angel, who gave it to the Apostle John, “to show His slaves what must shortly take place.”
And one more from Ezekiel 37 where he is told that he will prophesy and was told what he would say to the people about what was to happen.
Each true prophet is given what to say by God Himself, as He can see anything He wishes regarding the future, as well as He knows exactly what He is going to do and when He will do it.
Very exciting…and yet, troubling…times in which we live. There is a lot more to come our way before “the end of this system of things, and that one which is to come.”
john smith says
Thank you for your reply Somehistory, and the additional information. We are both on the same page thats one thing I’m sure of.
somehistory says
You are very welcome. And yes, we are. ?