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How free is free speech if corporations can suppress it?

Asked by DominicY (5662points) September 15th, 2017

Re-worded.

We know that the first amendment was designed to prevent government suppression of speech, but what about corporate suppression of speech? Many libertarians believe that the state is the force of censorship and that shrinking the state so it is near powerless will allow for maximum freedom. But then what happens when the corporations become even more powerful and exert their influence over our freedoms?

Corporations can ensure that the people with the “wrong views” won’t be hired, that they won’t be able to speak out, that they’ll be publicly shamed, etc. We often speak of free speech having consequences and corporations being allowed to do what they want, but how far should those consequences be allowed to reach? Should people really be fired for saying the wrong thing? Should an internet host shut down a white nationalist website?

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