Re: <nettime> Sign the BAN X in EUROPE petition and join the campaign

[Geoffrey Goodell via nettime-l <nettime-l@lists.nettime.org>]

Dear Geert and all

Certainly there is ample evidence that X is toxic, on several levels.  It
instills its owners with tremendous power, as de facto curators of public
speech.  It enables systematic profiling of its users and exploitation of those
users through vectors for targeted advertising.  Let me be the first to say
that it is horrible.

But: How we ban it is no less important than the question of whether to ban it.

Consider that the article references the Brazilian ban, which has proven to be
ineffective:

https://www.bbcnewsd73hkzno2ini43t4gblxvycyac5aw4gnv7t2rccijh7745uqd.onion/news/articles/cy4dn4z02emo

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4dn4z02emo

(1) The Brazilian approach was brutal and technical: instruct carriers to block
access to certain IP addresses or ranges, an approach akin to the 'great
firewall' of China.  Some experts have suggested that they work with
Cloudflare, a powerful gatekeeper that owns a staggering fraction of the TLS
private keys for webservers around the world, should work with Brazil to block
Brazilian users of the service.  Needless to say, this is not the right
approach: It merely enables a different set of gatekeepers!

(2) An alternative approach would be to ban X from operating a business in
Brazil.  This can be done, for example, by denying X or its affiliate partners
the right to collect revenues from Brazilian individuals or businesses, or by
denying X or its affiliate partners the right to pay Brazilian suppliers for
services.

(3) A further step might be to enact legislation preventing X from introducing
Brazilian users to voices of its other users (including, but not limited to,
paid advertisers) that they had not explicitly chosen to follow in advance, and
then pursue X in international courts.  After all, advertising via
introductions is the business model that keeps X alive, and this sort of policy
approach might be of interest to other nations beyond the EU as well.

Maybe the outcome of the petition would be to choose option (2) or option (3),
but I fear that its objective is to steer us toward option (1), which would be
a mistake.

It would be better for the petition to propose a clearer solution, so that we
can evaluate it clearly, rather than simply denounce a horrible platform for
being what it is without advising a way forward.  The way forward matters.

Best wishes --

Geoff

On Fri, 11 Oct 2024 at 08:46:04AM +0200, Geert Lovink via nettime-l wrote:
> Europeans must unite against Elon Musk's influence. If you are in the EU or a supporter of its values, we urge you to sign this petition <https://www.change.org/p/ban-x-in-europe-elon-musk-must-be-stopped-in-eu> to ban his platform X.
> 
> Please sign the petition on Change.org. Your name and data will not be published.
> 
> The social media platform X must be banned in Europe. Stop using it, organize the exodus, together and switch to safer and better alternatives like Mastodon ??? join it here <https://joinmastodon.org/>.
> 
> This is a call for an immediate ban on Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) in the European Union. This platform has become a breeding ground for disinformation, hate speech, and abuse that threaten the values of inclusivity and truth in our society. X is increasingly exploited as a tool for spreading disinformation on critical issues, including political debates, climate change, and social equality. Misinformation not only misguides public opinion but also undermines trust in democratic institutions. 
> 
> For instance, Musk has openly supported right-wing politicians such as Trump and Meloni in Italy, facilitating their infiltration into politics to advance his far-right agenda. This normalization of extremist views and amplification of hate speech directly opposes the EU's commitment to human rights and equality. 
> 
> Moreover, X does not promote a fair free speech environment; it is driven by Elon Musk's personal propaganda and the suppression of alternative viewpoints, resulting in censorship and the radicalization of false narratives.
> 
> Importantly, X is in violation of European laws, including the Digital Services Act (DSA). Musk has ignored these regulations, operating illegally within the EU. Several European MPs have already sent him warnings regarding these breaches, yet he continues to disregard the legal framework designed to protect our citizens. Notably, X was recently banned in Brazil for similar reasons, highlighting the urgent need for action in the EU. 
> 
> In light of these concerns, we urge the European Commission to take decisive action by banning X. 
> 
> Protecting European citizens from disinformation and hate speech is imperative for fostering healthy public discourse and ensuring the safety and dignity of all individuals. 
> 
> Join us in demanding a safer online environment for everyone in Europe. Sign this petition to ban X <https://www.change.org/p/ban-x-in-europe-elon-musk-must-be-stopped-in-eu> and uphold the values of truth, respect, and inclusivity. 
> 
> Sign the petition on Change.org <https://www.change.org/p/ban-x-in-europe-elon-musk-must-be-stopped-in-eu>
> Other languages of this call areavailable on https://BAN-X-in.EU <https://ban-x-in.eu/>
> Social media: hashtag #BAN_X_in_EU, Mastodon <https://mastodon.social/@BAN_X_in_EU>, X itself <https://x.com/BAN_X_in_EU>.
> Press kit and banners: Images and Photos <https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pxgzfWOd9DPtGe8zQpUstBHFyibNoVak?usp=sharing>
> Inquiries: ban.x.in.eu@gmail.com <mailto:ban.x.in.eu@gmail.com>
>  
> -- 
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# more info: https://www.nettime.org
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