Policy for Restoring Freedom of Expression and Limiting Corporate Influence
To protect individual freedom of speech and prevent companies from controlling or influencing public opinion. This policy suggests clear guidelines and accountability measures to ensure that people can express themselves openly without fear of being restricted or deplatformed based on corporate agendas or advertiser pressure.
Why This Policy Matters:
Corporations and advertisers have grown too influential in deciding what can or cannot be said online. As platforms increasingly prioritize certain viewpoints, people’s freedom to speak openly is threatened. By curtailing this corporate overreach, this policy aims to restore a balance that respects individual rights to free expression without interference from companies and advertisers.
Proposed Measures to Safeguard Freedom of Expression:
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Public Oversight Boards for Accountability
Establish independent, publicly elected oversight boards that review and monitor corporate practices around free expression. These boards would consist of diverse community representatives to provide balanced perspectives on corporate policies related to public speech. Companies should regularly report to these boards, creating transparency about content moderation, deplatforming, and advertiser influence. -
Neutral Platform Mandate
Platforms should maintain a neutral stance on social and political issues. This means refraining from aligning their policies with specific ideologies or pressuring users to conform to any particular set of beliefs. Platforms would be required to publicly commit to neutrality and demonstrate this commitment through regular, third-party audits. -
Transparent Influence Disclosures
Companies and advertisers should disclose any partnerships, financial ties, or sponsorships that may affect content moderation or platform policies. Full transparency allows users to make informed choices about which platforms align with their values and commitment to free expression. -
Free Expression Rating for Companies
Implement a public “Free Expression Rating” system for companies, similar to a credit score. This rating would assess each company’s level of neutrality and respect for free expression, based on factors like transparency, neutrality, and deplatforming practices. Ratings would be regularly updated, making it easy for the public to see where companies stand. -
Influence Tax on Biased Deplatforming
Companies that repeatedly restrict or deplatform users for expressing lawful, differing opinions should be subject to an “influence tax.” Revenue from this tax would go toward initiatives that support free expression, such as funding digital rights organizations and community platforms dedicated to open dialogue. -
Personal Belief Protection Clause
Ensure that users are not penalized, restricted, or deplatformed solely based on their personal beliefs or opinions. Unless speech violates specific legal standards, individuals should retain the right to express themselves without fearing censorship or penalty from the platform.
Intended Outcomes:
- Reaffirm the right to freedom of expression for all, without corporate control.
- Provide transparency about company influences and policies, giving users full visibility.
- Foster an online environment where ideas can be shared freely, and people can make choices based on reliable information.
- Ensure companies respect and prioritize users’ rights to open and diverse expression over corporate agendas.