882

Substack says it will not remove or demonetize Nazi content (www.theverge.com)

submitted 11 months ago by breakfastmtn@lemmy.ca to c/technology@lemmy.world

299 comments fedilink hide all child comments

More than 200 Substack authors asked the platform to explain why it’s “platforming and monetizing Nazis,” and now they have an answer straight from co-founder Hamish McKenzie:

I just want to make it clear that we don’t like Nazis either—we wish no-one held those views. But some people do hold those and other extreme views. Given that, we don’t think that censorship (including through demonetizing publications) makes the problem go away—in fact, it makes it worse.

While McKenzie offers no evidence to back these ideas, this tracks with the company’s previous stance on taking a hands-off approach to moderation. In April, Substack CEO Chris Best appeared on the Decoder podcast and refused to answer moderation questions. “We’re not going to get into specific ‘would you or won’t you’ content moderation questions” over the issue of overt racism being published on the platform, Best said. McKenzie followed up later with a similar statement to the one today, saying “we don’t like or condone bigotry in any form.”

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] ElPussyKangaroo@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

This is such a complicated feeling... On one hand, I agree. But on the other, we can't specifically pinpoint what censorship is valid and what isn't.

Edit: Obviously, I'm not considering Nazis in this thought experiment.

Edit 2: OH MY GOD PEOPLE! OF FUCKING COURSE WE SHOULD KEEP NAZIS OUT FFS! 😑

[-] burgers@toast.ooo 48 points 11 months ago

look i mean, wherever the line is, im pretty confident nazis are on the other side of it

[-] ElPussyKangaroo@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago

Good point.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 18 points 11 months ago

But on the other, we can’t specifically pinpoint what censorship is valid and what isn’t.

Yes we can. Kicking Nazis off their platform is valid censorship. Nazis lost the right to have a seat at the table in 1945.

[-] ElPussyKangaroo@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Obviously. I'm not considering Nazis in this thought experiment.

[-] Krzd@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago

It's indeed very difficult if not impossible to exactly and specifically pinpoint where the line is, it is however extremely easy to see when ideologies and behavior steps across it.

[-] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 4 points 11 months ago

But on the other, we can’t specifically pinpoint what censorship is valid and what isn’t.

I've seen this come up a few times. My response has been "luckily our platforms aren't run by an inscrutable god-machine nor an evil genie".

For non government cases like this, we don't need to solve the general case. We can just say "no Nazis allowed", and "no hating on queer folks " and so on as needed. Web forums have had rules for more than 30 years and it hasn't been a crisis.

[-] ElPussyKangaroo@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Yeah. A baseline is needed for sure. Moderation is definitely necessary.

[-] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

It is only censorship when it is the government, else it is normal people not wanting to deal with Nazis.

If you really want your white supremacists views out there just roll your own setup

[-] ElPussyKangaroo@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

It is only censorship when it is the government, else it is normal people not wanting to deal with Nazis.

Makes sense.

If you really want your white supremacists views out there just roll your own setup

sighs I'm not even gonna try to address it now.

[-] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Hey sorry Nazis are bad at figuring out how internet works

this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2023

882 points (100.0% liked)

Technology

59689 readers

2095 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

Follow the lemmy.world rules.
Only tech related content.
Be excellent to each another!
Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
Politics threads may be removed.
No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS