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"We need more than deplatforming" is the literal headline, and they support it in the post:

"Changing these dangerous dynamics requires more than just the temporary silencing or permanent removal of bad actors from social media platforms. Additional precise and specific actions must also be taken"

Note: More than. Additional. Also.



Wow, that quote is taken out of context. Let me try to break it down with reference to the context of the article:

> Changing these dangerous dynamics...

The "these dynamics" Mitchell speaks about are, the rampant use of the internet to:

1. Foment violence and hate.

2. Reinforce white supremacy.

3. Politicians (or anyone playing politics, really) exploiting the architecture of the internet to spread lies / hate / what-have-you.

> temporary silencing or permanent removal of bad actors

These, presumably, include:

1. Terrorists organizations like the Proud Boys.

2. Divisive, regressive, repressive figures like Donald Trump.

3. Institutions hell-bent on inciting hate, spreading disinformation, facilitating abuse, inculcating disharmony, encouraging violence, sowing mistrust, aiding conspiracies...

> Additional precise and specific actions must also be taken

Absolutely.

I see this policy stance as being no different to wanting the education system to not purport Racism; this isn't curtailing freedom of speech or any other freedom. It is purely an exercise in needing to do more than just deplatforming Racists: Not actively seek to create new ones!


I interpret the post as saying "banning people on Twitter won't solve our problem, transparency in advertising and social media algorithms will" because before your quote Mitchell (CEO of Mozilla) in the post says:

> But as reprehensible as the actions of Donald Trump are, the rampant use of the internet to foment violence and hate, and reinforce white supremacy is about more than any one personality. Donald Trump is certainly not the first politician to exploit the architecture of the internet in this way, and he won’t be the last. We need solutions that don’t start after untold damage has been done.

And then lists several possible solutions that seem quite reasonable, and we should for sure push for the first two.

PS to anyone reading this exchange, at this point our comments are longer than the original blog post, you might as well just read the original instead of our out-of-order commentary. :)




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