A challenge to Section 230 wouldn’t have happened, had Internet evolved the way it was evolving in late 90s, despite the fact Nobel laureates saying it won’t be more than a Fax Machine by mid 00.
And its fall is no more even restricted to likes of Wikipedia (even its own cofounder doesn’t trust it), or, pay per click / money for views / CTR alike unpalatable policies, or, likes of WIRED who were supposed to be publishing Scientific breakthrough materials, rather, started publishing articles alike “Rise of Hindu Vigilante in India” written by Someone metaphorically
backed by the likes of Ilhan Omar.Use Signal instead of WhatsApp for freedom, a marketing strategy (Privacy for Free), as endorsed by Snowden or Dorsey; as if both of these individuals understand the kaleidoscopic evolutionary traits of all Nations! Twitter was fun in early 2010. Then seems the Investors expanded. But what was the Intentions of such investors? To publicize or market faith (as seen in football world cup inauguration ceremony), or, greed is good, or, something else? Intentions matter! Britishers introduced themselves to India as Businessmen; but the real intention was to capture resources. Whereas Islamists & Europeans openly came for Proselytism in India. In both cases, Intentions were same. Or Weren’t?
Publisher, Moderator, Resource Provider, User; doesn’t matter who you were in 90s. It’s the vibrations of the late 90s to early 00 era of Internet that forged the foundation of it to thrive exponentially. But then what happened? I’ve been writing for years about the dangers of following the belief that number of clicks or views equal money, both for the User & Provider; or, how embracing revenue via harvesting data is detrimental to Internet; Yet, it kept happening. The negation of Authentication or Verification of all Users’ didn’t happen via OTP or Subscription based; rather, it was done arbitrarily to provide a justification for MSM coverage of certain individuals; & I’ve been writing on this too for years, almost begging on Twitter to CEOs & Founders, before deleting my profile. And what was the result? Everyone is witnessing right now with their own Naked eyes. The Seattle’s no caste based discrimination ordinance. Fine! But would they now have audacity to proceed further with the compulsory Reservation policy, & also furthermore amending American Constitution for the same?
Stop serving half baked dishes merely to project yourself with Love over Hate kind of illogical nonsensical unreasonable phrases. Alas, the Silicon Valley served this as Michelin starrer. No idea if the Investors forced them or the Employees’ Group Dynamics were in execution of the policies. And just as the BBC fell from grace (maybe already was like that), so goes for the Silicon Valley!
© Pranav Chaturvedi 2023