Apple banning podcasts because of politics

[flyboyy]

Just thought I would register my opinion on banning (slippery slope of censorship) of certain political podcasts.

This to me is the last straw. I've been a solid Apple user for many years, but now I guess Communist style censorship is the new way @ Apple. What will be TC's next law? When a corporation decides to step on the free speech of me and my choices, I draw the line.

 

[chscag]

Moved here to the Lounge as it is really not what we conside an Apple rumor or report. Also it would help if you included a link to an article that we can read.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

About the only thing that Apple and numerous other sites have banned recently (in podcast form and otherwise) is InfoWars.

 

[Cr00zng]

Just thought I would register my opinion on banning (slippery slope of censorship) of certain political podcasts.

This to me is the last straw. I've been a solid Apple user for many years, but now I guess Communist style censorship is the new way @ Apple. What will be TC's next law? When a corporation decides to step on the free speech of me and my choices, I draw the line.

While I had not followed and/or watched any of the Alex Jones' podcast, or any other podcast for that matter, I tend to agree with you on the surface. On the other hand Apple banning the podcast is not your freedom of speech.

Without seeing the offending podcast, that caused blocking all podcast, it's hard to say. Seeing that Google, Facebook, etc., quickly followed and banned most of Alex Jones' channels, this could mean couple of things.

First and foremost, the content of the podcast did indeed include hate speech and harassment based on the current "politically correct" environment. A quick look at the InfoWars website, just reading the headlines, shows nothing that would be hate speech or harassment. This has been my first look at InfoWars website and as such, my surface judgement could be wrong.

<tinfoil>Second, it might be part of the concerted effort to to remove alternative news platform that leaves MSM as the only option for most people. Knowing how quickly other social media type of site followed Apple, it is not impossible that there had been some central information association, or clearing house making this decision. </tinfoil>

You don't know much about the "Communist style censorship*" and let me explain how that works:

1. The Alex Jones type of alternative news is not even remotely possible
2. Even mild criticism in the newspaper, radio, TV or local websites may result in jail

*-This style of censorship could be called anything. For example, Saud Arabia has similar censorship and it's enforced more than in communist countries.[/I]

 

[pigoo3]

This to me is the last straw. I've been a solid Apple user for many years..

"Last Straw" for what?

Does this mean you're going to sell all your Apple related gadgets...and switch to Windows to somehow punish Apple?

- Nick

 

[flyboyy]

Thanks chscag,
I wasn't sure which place to post it.

My purpose was to raise awareness of this issue. When you ban a particular point of view, that is censorship and is a slippery slope. In Germany, Hitler first killed off the feeble in institutions and then went after the Jews and then the Catholics and finally we all know where that led. Communist Russia did the same thing as well as the C. Chinese.

AJ is a very excitable person, but there are lots of sites that use Apple/Google/FB etc for disseminating real hate/violence but are magically exempt. There are lots of Conservative, Libertarian sites including Congressmen that have been banned from these platforms. This seems to be directed by a political agenda, which is the concerning part.

Nick,
I won't sell anything as that would be silly, but will not purchase any more from them. My feeling is that Apple is not bleeding edge anymore. The I. Touch I have has a constant litany of issues that AC does not seem to be able to fix. It is now getting to be more like the PC world that I left so long ago. Curiously, a young guy in an electronics store that I visited, said the same about complaints that Apple seems to release updates long before they get the bugs out.

However, I am upset that Apple is making political statements.

https://www.newswars.com/alex-jones-is-right-china-is-the-threat-and-it-may-be-too-late/

 

[Raz0rEdge]

My final word on this very incendiary topic - All sites that provide a platform for sharing content (in all forms) have a terms of service and a set of guidelines that they follow (We here are Mac Forums are no different). Anyone that violates the TOS or set of guidelines is dealt with as the companies see fit. Please do not confuse the American 1st amendment of free speech to this since that is very much for speech made in a public venue which none of these sites/hosts are.

So if you disagree with any of their policies, you are more than welcome to exercise your personal right with your wallet and not spend any money on their products.

There is no REAL close to this sort of discussion and I, for one, will not participate in this any further.

 

[flyboyy]

Hi Raz0rEdge,
I completely understand what you are saying, but my understanding is that Google for sure and possibly others had spent a huge amount of time in Washington in Obama's time, lobbying to have themselves being given the ability to operate as they do and so were in actually given rope to get away with things that others cannot as they were considered to be like the forum in Rome which was a public place.

When a corporation is given certain rights (Public Utility) like for instance, the electric company cannot cut you off because you are of a certain colour, race, political persuasion or because they do not like the way you talk.

In Communist China for instance if you send around an emoji of the Taiwan flag in your emails the state cuts off your complete internet access for I believe it is 6 months. This was reported in the news. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/07/11/taiwan-flag-emoji-crashes-iphones-appease-china/ That is the end game of these large American corporations. Remember that Apple is corporate tax free in China as part of the deal they struck with China when the US dropped the corporate tax rate (to the early 20% I believe) and the Chinese the next day dropped it to 0% but you had to submit to ChiCom controls.

TC is under the influence of the ChiComs and communist dictatorship has landed on our shores. That is my concern.