Big tech its notorious. For what? For banning and suspending people on the right. These supposedly objective platforms have a clear political agenda. And its not friendly to conservatism.
One person refusing to take this prejudice lying down is investigative journalist Laura Loomer. She recently filed a lawsuit against Apple Facebook Google and Twitter for conspiring to silence her political views.
She has been banned from you wont believe this. From Twitter. And Facebook. And Instagram. And Periscope PayPal Venmo GoFundMe Chase Bank Lyft Medium TeeSpring Uber and Uber Eats. Uber Eats? Really? They banned her she says mostly for her critical statements about Islam. She refers to herself as the most banned woman in the world."
I plan on suing all of the Left wing terrorists and tech tyrants who are trying to shut me down simply because I am a Conservative Jewish woman who speaks truth about Islam" she said in a social media post. I have nothing to lose anymore so trust me when I say I will stop at nothing to make sure justice is served for the way Silicon Valley has disenfranchised me falsely accusing me of being a white supremacist a Nazi anti-Muslim a racist a bigot and every other smear in the book."
A D.C. federal judge initially dismissed the case. She appealed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. It allowed the suit to go ahead.
Suit Could Result in Government Regulation
Loomer also claims that the tech giants have breached the Sherman Act which prohibits monopolies. She says theyve violated D.C.s public accommodations law which prohibits denying people access to public accommodations for discrimination reasons. She asserts the companies are violating her First Amendment right to free speech. Finally she says shes suffered severe financial injury as a result of being banned. How does she claim that? Facebook and Twitter have become so popular that some argue they are public utilities. And public utilities with a monopoly on communication. As such they are subject to government regulation.
Facebook and Instagram have not banned Antifa or ISIS from having accounts on their platforms.
A spokesperson for Facebook said in response that the company bans individuals or organizations that promote or engage in violence and hate regardless of ideology." They apparently think her comments apply. However Facebook and Instagram have not banned Antifa or ISIS from having accounts on their platforms. Antifa doesnt engage in violence? ISIS doesnt engage in violence and hate? Who are they kidding?
Why She Was Banned
Is the banning fair? Loomer has been accused of being part of the alt right. She has denounced the alt right. She has also publicly rebuked white nationalist Richard Spencer. She even refused to share a stage with him. Twitter banned her last November for calling Rep. Ilhan Omar anti-Jewish" and describing her as a member of a religion in which homosexuals are oppressed" and women are abused" and forced to wear the hijab." Does Twitter notice whats going on in Saudi Arabia? And other Muslim countries? Lesser known people tweet similar statements all the time and arent banned. Help us champion truth freedom limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream PayPal banned Loomer after discovering she was linked to The United West. The far left organizations Council on AmericanIslamic Relations and the Southern Poverty Law Center have labeled The United West a hate group. But considering SPLC has labeled regular Christian groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom a hate group its hard to take them seriously. Project Veritas has released several videos exposing big techs bias against conservatives. The bias is becoming well-known and conservatives are starting to fight back. Loomer worked for Project Veritas for three years as an undercover journalist before launching her own company.Loomers Defense
Loomer has also filed a defamation lawsuit against Facebook for calling her a dangerous individual." She made waves last November for chaining herself to Twitters New York headquarters to protest censorship.
If Loomer is successful with her lawsuit it could set a sweeping precedent.
If Loomer is successful with her lawsuit it could set a sweeping precedent. Currently big tech is treated like platforms. They provide a computer service with no responsibility for what the users post. Yet they still limit what they let appear on their platform.
They want to claim theyre not legally liable for what they post while at the same time choosing what viewpoints they let on their platforms. They cant have it both ways. Loomers lawsuit could get them treated as public utilities instead subject to government regulation.
Loomer is currently running for Congress in a heavily Democratic district north of Miami.
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