Vinicio A. Castillo Semán
Censorship imposed by major technology platforms on U.S. President Donald Trump for not being able to send any message is the world’s most serious threat to free speech. This measure raises a series of reflections that go beyond the controversial figure of Trump.
The questions we need to ask ourselves are simple and straightforward: Who is the judge? Who will judge whether a president, a leader or a citizen has abused freedom of expression through social media, this being a fundamental right of every human being?
The owners of the big networks are becoming a supra-power.
In advance they will be the judges. They will decide who to shut up with and who will be able to express themselves. This is the principle of dictatorships, against which the free and democratic world has fought so hard.
The excuse that has been taken to silence Trump is that he called for violence and incited by networks the shameful assault on the United States Congress.
I reviewed Trump’s messages, and none called for violence or instigated the unfortunate nonsense. That is my opinion. Others may have another contrary, but the judges should be the only ones who can determine whether he committed this serious crime that is imputed to him. If the role of judge passes into private hands, today the case is that of Trump, tomorrow they can do so against any citizen who expresses opinions that are not to the liking of social media owners.
If this is consolidated we will go to the global tyranny of thought. Eliminating, via social media, the dissension so fundamental to a democratic and free society would be the most catastrophic thing that could happen in today’s times.
There was a phrase in the story, the authorship is still debated, which sums up the axis of these reflections. “I don’t agree with your opinion, but I would give my life defending your right to express it.” Censorship of Trump is, at the same time, a warning to Biden and his new government, and to all the rulers of the free world, where global real power lies. A subtle but clear warning to those who dare to confront, regulate or limit these powerful interests from governments.
President Trump confronted them harshly. And they pulled him out of power. And now they want to turn him into a civilian death. And that in the future he dares to do the same against them to warn them that he would pay the same price.
Defending freedom of expression is fundamental to living in a democracy.