It seems like only yesterday when established media platforms were trusted beyond rational hesitation. Where we wouldn’t question what we were told or could even imagine monopoly platforms with such power could lie or at least not tell the truth. Now it’s either harder to find the truth, or we have been given enough reasons to query what we are told. Never in modern times has there been such doubt and distance between the common citizen and their chosen media mogul.
De-platforming, de-monetisation and censorship of right-wing pages and free thought intellects has become almost normal. Too many people are sitting back and letting fascism take place all because it is coming from the left. If the shoe was on the other foot and Facebook was banning left-wing pages you could imagine the uproar. But surely the straw that breaks the camels back is the most recent findings of the Russia-gate conspiracy.
We have been told that the de-platformed and politically censored Infowars peddles conspiracy theories – which they sometimes do. Although one of the main facets that draw people to conspiracy theories is that sometimes they turn out to be true, or have certain aspects of truth inside them. After all, some say there is no smoke without fire. But when people go to a certain platform like Infowars they know full well that it is not part of the mainstream established media elite. Infowars viewers understand that some things Alex Jones expresses could have been spiced up for dramatic effect or was to draw attention on certain political issues that are not yet heard in the conventional echo chamber. This is ok since the platform knows it will never be mainstream, nor attempts it, nor represents it. His viewers appreciate his efforts, understand that his news is alternative and have backed this up with Infowars racking up millions upon millions of views on the internet.
This, along with his right-wing focused news has seen him completely de-platformed and censored on Facebook, Apple, Twitter and YouTube. Even his PayPal account was disabled, resulting in financial panic. What is really considered extreme when free-speech is taken down over political disagreement? Who is the one acting extreme when a company decides you can no longer buy food for your family over political discrepancy? And my third and final question. Who should be the one de-platformed when a conspiracy theory known as the Russian collusion finds no evidence after pushing the story for over 2 and a half years?
I highly doubt the likes of the NY Times, CNN, MSNBC and Washington post will be de-platformed. I highly doubt they will face any consequence at all. Even though their crime is close to treason. Which can be defined as the crime of betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or government. Attempting to overthrow Trump with a conspiracy for over 2 and a half years is a considerable attempt at treason if you ask anyone. Overall, Axios reported that since May 2017, exactly 533,074 web articles have been published about Russia and Trump-Mueller. An MRC study found ABC, CBS & NBC threw 2,284 minutes of video footage onto the conspiracy.
A revolution is happening in front of our eyes where the media juggernauts silence their critics and reach new heights in levels of hypocrisy regarding fake news. They tell smaller platforms to do as I say, not as I do, but on a scale, so grand its almost dystopian and is by certainty a breach of one’s power. Laws need to made regarding political censorship, there needs to be consequences regarding fake news and journalists need not be activists. Although I don’t think we will be seeing many changes anytime soon.
Aidan Green is the editor of The Commentariat.