Sebastian Kaleta – Why I Decided To Regulate Big Tech in Poland
In Poland, we have watched with alarm as a consortium of ever more powerful, monopolistic Big Tech companies have done what was once unthinkable: de-platforming a sitting U.S. president. For us, this example—which has alarmed presidents and prime ministers across Europe and, indeed, the world—is merely the straw that broke the camel’s back. The debate about who and what social media companies should be able to ban is now firmly in the public eye.
For the citizens of Poland and other countries that value true democratic accountability, we have concluded that this situation can go on no longer. As media across the world have noted, Poland has proposed a law establishing a “Freedom of Speech Council” to guarantee that Polish citizens are not arbitrarily manipulated by Big Tech companies.
At the heart of our proposal is an effort to guarantee Polish citizens their constitutional right to freedom of speech on major internet platforms. The Freedom of Speech Council we propose will decide what Big Tech can and cannot remove from its platforms, lest they attempt to impose restrictions beyond the laws that govern and protect speech in Poland. Far from a partisan or factional initiative, the Freedom of Speech Council will convoke members for six-year terms after they have been nominated by a three-fifths majority in Parliament.
The remedy befits the magnitude of the problem. Two thousand years ago, the Roman comedian Juvenal asked, “Who will watch the watchers?” In the case of Big Tech, I believe that the answer lies with the people—not nameless moderators operating with no transparency and no ability for recourse. The Freedom Act I have proposed in Poland is not only a law that would guarantee Polish citizens their constitutional right to freedom of speech, but it provides a blueprint for how to confront the problem of unaccountable speech regulation by Silicon Valley oligarchs.
100%
Well done Poland!!!
Polish jokes were the joke of the day decades ago. looks like the Poles now can say the whole world other than them has become a joke and be 100% accurate.
this is something you will never see in Canada. Justin just like his stepfather is all about limiting free speech.
How does one move to Poland? Don’t speak the language, but do have a Polish surname. Don’t like cabbage all that much, though.
The interventionalist (not voted) in new Joe and the Ho administration will be going after both Hungary and Poland soon enough. Hopefully they can withstand the globalist onslaught.
That is true and Poles know it. They remember how Hussein Ogabe AL-Chicago sent a low level diplomat to Poland with a note cancelling the missile defense. The diplomat arrived on September 17, the anniversary of Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939.
My wife & I LOVE Poland – beautiful country with lots of charming towns. We’d relocate there.
Cabbage? LOL, that is a staple… in traditional Polish restaurants in New York or Chicago, not in Poland. You get all sorts of ethnic food in every major urban area. Traditional Polish cuisine is boring and bland though. They boil everything to death until all the taste is gone.
I think you’re confusing “traditional” Polish cuisine with “Soviet-era Polish cuisine”. Traditional Polish cuisine tends to be the same sort of peasant food that you would find in say, Tuscany, and while it’s hearty and simple food, they rely heavily on seasoning and spices to make it interesting. It’s not boring and bland at all. Soviet-era Polish cuisine, on the other hand, did require that everything be boiled to death, because you were probably eating your shoes.
And just for the record – Poland knows a thing or two about repression of free speech, I’d listen to them if I were you. Especially since Hungary has expressed the same sentiment as well.
Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga has declared that she will begin investigating censorship of political views on social media in Hungary and across Europe, according to reports.The Hungarian minister announced her decision on social media platform Facebook over the weekend, saying she would be creating a “working group” within the ministry to “investigate the possibilities for a legal environment to ensure the transparency of social media service providers – both on EU and national level.”“Originally their job would not be to influence societal processes and elections by censoring comments on an ideological basis, however, if they had done it once they shall accept the necessity of the regulation and follow the rules of democracy,” she added.
In other words, if you’re going to start acting like a publisher, you’re going to start getting treated like a publisher.
Sorry but Polish cuisine does not rely on spices… Seasoning? Sure, but the collection of commonly used herbs is not particularly impressive. I find poor man’s food from Italy or Mexico much more interesting.
“In other words, if you’re going to start acting like a publisher, you’re going to start getting treated like a publisher.”
That’s not how either freedom or Section 230 works.
About 25 years ago,after the fall of the Iron Curtain, I saw a TV news item about Canadians retiring to Poland, and not all were Polish speaking. The gist of the show was that Poland is a good place to retire to with all the amenities we have,less crime and political corruption,and our dollar is strong compared to their currency.
Poland lived under the thumb of tyrants for so long they have become very wary of power hungry entities trying to ruin the freedom they finally have now. One of the most sensible governments in Europe today.
Having visited communist Poland I know that he language issue is difficult to overcome. Polish cuisine is arguably better than anything the French produce though.
Nothing like experiencing something first hand before telling someone else what to do,unlike the useless crap the left wingers spew in North America.Good work Poland
Joseph Stealin.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d9081bcfefa54803c576e4b412cdbee4b09ef8d7799c7d6b472523af92f5a284.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d9081bcfefa54803c576e4b412cdbee4b09ef8d7799c7d6b472523af92f5a284.jpg
“Your post goes against community standards blah blah blah….”
The Democrats will not do anything until it’s their ox being gored. Then it’ll suddenly be a big concern.
This is for everyone concerned about videos getting memory-holed. Please bookmark and use at leisure:
YT: https://www.y2mate.com/en66
FB: https://fbdown.net/
…Note that to get the FB URL you need to R-click on the video, then L-click on “Show video URL.”
Kate, if this message is potentially harmful to SDA, don’t publish and I’ll post a link to my MEGA account instead, where I’ll put the info.
I am with “Enough”. How DO we move to Poland or Hungary?
Saw a Hungarian Minister tell one BBC news “reporter” that the EU could stuff their sanctions up their arse. Hungary was not kowtowing to them.
Past Time to break up the uselsss EU!
There’s another reason why social media tends to form “natural monopolies”. Most people who post something on the internet want to reach the widest audience possible, so they want to be on the platforms that everyone else is on. Thus, once a company has achieved dominance in a market, they become even more attractive to readers and posters.
This is different then, say, the automobile market, where people like to drive vehicles that are distinct from everyone else (but no so distinct that they can’t get the vehicle serviced.)
I’m of Polish decent and was in Poland a few years ago on business, meeting with a lifetime resident of Krakow. During a fantastic dinner and walk around the city center at midnight he explained what it was like living through the communist years, the trials and upheaval coming out of it, and the future of Poland. One sentence of his that I will never forget… paraphrased… “those of us who have lived through it will NEVER allow our country to go there again. We will die first!”
Unfortunately, the citizens of Canada and the USA have never lived through it… thus I’m afraid we will have to “live through it” before we learn our lesson. I weep for my children and grandchildren.
Canadians who fought in two world wars and a police action died in vain.
Yes they did. Sadly too many of the most recent generation disparage them as well.
I read that Poland was discussing invoking 2nd Addm Rights into their constitution also.
This may be in the cards but probably not in the immediate future. The most pro gun in Eastern Europe are Czechs.
In the 1930`s the Czechs were the second largest armament manufacturers in the world and produced top class products including tanks and vehicles. Hence Angry Adolf`s desire to capture their factories. The factories were too far inland to be bombed by the Allies and their expertise significantly improved the quality and performance of the German war machines. We should also remember it was Poland that saved Europe from the Muslim hordes in 1683.
Czech guns are excellent to this day (Polish too but they are virtually unknown here), CZ-75 was probably the best combat handgun of its era and still a a very viable choice today, a lot of IPSC shooters rock CZs. Their riffles are great too. The trigger on the popular CZ-527 an -550 models is not designed to comply with American lawyers. I would take a CZ riffle in heartbeat over mainstream products from ex Ruger or Remington. Sadly the excellent VZ-58 got verbotten last year by Black Prince.
Beever got there first.
“ those of us who have lived through it will NEVER allow our country to go there again. We will die first!”
Unfortunately, the citizens of Canada and the USA have never lived through it… thus I’m afraid we will have to “live through it” before we learn our lesson. I weep for my children and grandchildren.”
I am definitely going to look into what life is like in Poland. I’m convinced North America is doomed.
Remind me again what that word is when the government dictates to private entities the details of who and how they must do business? It’s on the tip of my tongue.
This will end very neatly when Facebook and Twitter simply implement geolocation and block anyone in Poland from accessing their service. There. Problem solved.
Couldn’t agree more. The day Facebook and Twitter pull out of Poland, I’ll cheer.
An entrepreneur in Startup Nation—an ally of Poland, not so much of self-hating American “Jews” like Zuckerberg—will be happy to fill the gap, I’m sure.
Yes. I predict that will happen. But the leftist tech oligarchs fail to understand that they are NOT “essential”. The “Free Market” you wish to slap us down with is not without need of regulation. For example, Monopolies are NOT simply a “most successful” Free Market outcome. No. Monopolies do things like CANCEL Parler … just as millions upon millions flee to it in the wake of “The Great Tech Deplatforming”. That is protectionist monopolizing of speech platforms. It has NOTHING whatsoever to do with FREE Market Capitalism.
Kenji, it is not “free market” when all of today’s monopolies enjoy exclusive broad privileges granted to them by the state.
“That is protectionist monopolizing of speech platforms.”
You’re using words you don’t understand to describe issues you don’t understand.
Amazon has no obligation to host the scat show that is Parler.
Right. Just as bakers have no obligation to bake a cake for you and your boyfriend’s wedding.
Or is that different?
Well, as much as I would applaud Poland’s initiative, I’m kind of going to have to be a bit of a wet blanket here, because I am concerned with a government agency or committee deciding on what constitutes, or doesn’t constitute free speech. The potential for overreach doesn’t escape me.
For now, the intention is for this committee to represent the will of the people, and I whole-heartedly agree with that noble objective, however, as we’ve seen so many times in the past, the road to hell is always paved with good intentions. We’ve seen how the most powerful, free country on earth has been corrupted from within by the very same government departments and agencies that I’m sure were originally intended to also represent the people’s interest.
And look how that turned out.
The framers of the U.S. constitution were absolutely brilliant formulating all the checks and balances, and did a heck of a job, as the republic withstood threats from external and internal sources for over 250 years, but alas… evil goes where good men fear to tread, and that evil still somehow to bypass all the checks and balances, and managed to corrupt the country and it’s institutions.
We’ve figured out the problem, but is the solution really to have *more* government committees? To me, that would be a very simplistic approach toward solving a very real dilemma.
Regulation of natural monopolies is a necessary evil. I don’t like it either but the alternative is worse.
You are right. But. There is nothing natural about most of today’s monopolies. They got to the monopoly position due to government regulations in the first place.
I suppose there’s a case to be made with that point, William… but it seems to me that kind of approach makes our side a little hypocritical considering how much we speak out against government over-regulation, and over-reach.
No it’s not necessary in the first place and these are not ‘monopolies’.
Why am I totally unsurprised that conservatives are the biggest whiniest most entitled crybabies in the world? I guess getting stomped in the culture wars ad infinitum helped.
A direct result I’m sure of neighbouring European psychopaths divvying them up as if they were playing the game Empire.
Somewhere Sobieski is smiling.
It’s Poland, after all. A Christian nation.
Why not a document affirming that the right of freedom of speech is given to us as individuals BY GOD? Oh, wait, where have I heard about this document before?
Speaking of Christian Poland, Saudis offered to fund a mosque in Warsaw. The reply from Polish foreign minister was brilliant: “Sure, as soon as you agree for Poland to fund a cathedral in Riyadh”. He literarily told them that. They haven’t heard from Saudis since.
Colon
I recall that…absolutely Brilliant…Retort.!!.
That we could have ACTUAL common Sense Politicians here..??? meh, fat fkn chance of that. EVERY Political party in this sad sack nation is on the socialist TAKE – ChiCom – Islamic or US deep state….take your pick.
Our votes will go to MAVERICK from now on.
Poland is a better place to do business than California …
https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2021/01/14/mayor-sam-liccardo-san-jose-crew-silicon-valley.html
Liccardo’s concern stems from California-based companies deciding that they’ll put their fastest-growing business units elsewhere “because it is simply too expensive, too challenging, too much red tape to be growing here.”
Show me the internet platform and I’ll show you the crime. Parler is using foreign services, and they’re not Chinese.
Now the state covers the oligarchs with investigations. It worked on Trump, it will work on Parler.
Except it won’t. More evidence every birdbrained, totalitarian, mean spirited, partisan trick anyone can think of, they will do.
“(House Oversight Committee )Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney wrote in a letter dated Jan. 21 that the FBI should carry out a “robust investigation” into whether Parler played a role in the Capitol breach.” Oversight of threats to DeMarxist hegemony.
“Maloney also suggests that the agency investigate whether the social media website is a “potential conduit for foreign governments” after the company retained the services of Russian company DDoS-Guard, ostensibly for traffic rerouting. Parler’s full social media website isn’t back online, and just a simple landing page is up, with messages from CEO John Matze, Fox News’ Sean Hannity, syndicated radio host Mark Levin, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).”
How evil and “far right wing,” quite typical of white supremacists, all of them hiding in plain sight, oops in the majority.
And well armed you insipid fools oblivious to your miscalculations, provided it benefits you, ignoring obvious blowback.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/house-oversight-chairwoman-asks-fbi-director-to-investigate-parler-over-jan-6-capitol-riots_3665899.html?utm_source=newsnoe&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-2021-01-21-2
They should just automatically fine the fuckers every time their is a complaint of any type of censorship.
Poland knows exactly what living under the communist thumb is like and are keen not to repeat the experience.
They have learned from the past. It is a shame we cannot.
Poland has proposed a law establishing a “Freedom of Speech Council”
Might as well call it the Ministry of Truth, or better yet: Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda — Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.
That’s rich coming from a devotee of the “religion of peace”.
Nonsense. The Reich Ministry Powers have been granted to Twitter/Facebook/Apple/Amazon … who are the SS Goon Squad … SILENCING … all speech not sanctioned by The State. Why don’t you have the balls to call it what it is? The American Left, including “elected” politicians, Deep State bureaucrats, The dominant media, and Tech Titans are all the Apparatchiks SILENCING “unauthorized” Speech.
Poland is doing the opposite thing you twit. Weak comment. Weak.
No one is silencing you, you hysterical snowflake idiot.
Oh goodie, they let you out early this week, the staff at your loony bin must be heaving a team building retreat (or at least that is what they told your mother). Here we go again, you’ll spent another weekend dumping senseless drivel here, while your mother’s boyfriends in the other room are cheering for their favorite sports team, The Domebabies.
Your tears continue to be delicious.
Tear? What tears? Oh, you mean … nevermind, sure, I got yellow tears, enjoy them.
What’s going to happen is that a lot of places like India and Europe, for example, are going to build their own internet much like China has done. The geniuses at Facebook, Twitter, etc. are so focused on provincial US concerns they didn’t realize that censoring Trump would be viewed by other leaders as a national security issue in their own countries.
Other countries are not going to let San Francisco hipsters control information flow in their countries.
“We shall never surrender. And even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”
Who would have thought that former Soviet Bloc states like Poland and Hungary would one day be the new world, staunchly guarding their hard-won freedoms against the surging tide of neo-Marxism, and that the spavined, socialist-infested, woke-choked former democracies of the West would be the old?
Don’t like Facebook?
1. Cancel your facebook account.
2. Build your own Alt-Facebook.
What’s the probability of that happening? Go ahead, bring your lame excuses.
Conservatives don’t want the Government to regulate their behaviour. They want the Government to regulate the other guy’s behaviour. Double standards — twice as good.
Get your own facebook, and your own hosting services, and your own credit card company, and your own bank, and your own internet, right? Ok mooselimb.
Yes, for once you might actually create something. Unlikely, but beats coercing those who actually do create value.
Eat shit and die, Rizla. Like we didn’t already have enough lobotomized trolls here.
Bravo!
The answer: because Poland is ruled by an authoritarian bunch of a-holes with no regard for freedom or rule of law.
Twitter et alia should just refuse all the regulations and carry on.
” The Freedom of Speech Council we propose will decide what Big Tech can and cannot remove from its platforms, lest they attempt to impose restrictions beyond the laws that govern and protect speech in Poland.”
That is not how freedom of speech works. No surprise that neither the Polish government nor Kate understands that.
Thankfully this set of Trogs shouldn’t be in power for too much longer. Modern, civilized Poland is growing stronger nearly won the last election.
You do realize they censor for China right? But you want them to flout Poland’s laws. And now that they cracked down on Antifa because they’re too uppity for the Dems.
A defacto government body.