This is not my usual content, so feel free to ignore me if you’re so inclined.
Recently, social media companies have made it common practice to suspend the rights of individuals and organizations to speak freely on their platforms. Their reasons are numerous: To prevent offense, to protect democratic integrity, to protest hate and intolerance, and many other reasons.
This suppression of free speech is legal under the laws of the USA and most other countries because users of social media agree to abide by terms and conditions of a platform. That said, the legality of such suppression is in direct violation of the universal human rights of all citizens of the United Nations’ member countries.
In 1948, the United Nations agreed on a standard of human rights accorded to all humans, regardless of race, class, gender, ethnicity, or any other factor. In this article is the following agreement:
Article 19
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
I believe that the current activity of social media platforms and corporations blocking individual users from sharing opinions, including those which may be intentionally or accidentally incorrect, is in violation of the spirit of human rights and international cooperation.
Furthermore, I believe that any law made by a nation with or without the consent of its people which restricts free expression (including so-called “hate speech” laws) is likewise in violation of universally recognized human rights.
If you agree with this opinion, please share this post or the text within. It is only through the collective international voice of individual humans that the liberty our forefathers intended will endure.
If you disagree, I welcome your corrections. That or just ignore me : )
Sources:
The United Nations Declaration of Universal Human Rights:
https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/
Business Insider: List of Individuals Banned on Social Media Since Capital Hill Riots
The above link is not all inclusive, and is intended to verify only that social media platforms have taken the actions stated above. Please do your own research if you have doubts or want more information.
