Facebook and Twitter are NOT private.

[barb012]

Obama was in the silicon Valley a few weeks ago and now we are hearing this news.

[Captdon]

Yes, we know. Thanks for restating the obvious.

Not socialism when dealing with a monopoly. Question is, how should it be dealt with without government intervention? We would all appreciate any ideas you might have about this although Canada, I'm sure, is totally ill equipped to deal with this type of issue. Eh?

Nothing to have ideas about.

[Captdon]

Lummy's idea is interesting from a perspective of looking at possible fixes, not necessarily advocating them.

Broadcast radio and television stations are private entities, yet they are required to adhere to federal guidelines regarding access and content. The internet is rapidly replacing those entities as the primary source of news and entertainment. I could easily see how internet sites could be classified in the same way as ABC, CBS, NBC, or FOX and requiring them to adhere to the same or similar standards.

I am not suggesting it should be done, but I see how it could be done.

The internet doesn't need fixed fir starters.

The networks are not regulated for content. That's point. They have regulations about connections, size, access to 911, access to long distance, etc.

It's no close to what Lummy is talking about. I have ATT but I could have Comcast which has it's own lines and can't be regulated unless you pass a law that probably would not hold up.

[Captdon]

FCC licensing similar to amateur radio is sort of another federal model. A quasi-ham license would probably mean no swearing, no offensive language of any kind, no background music, no selling. Ham radio frequencies are constantly monitored, and infractions can result in fines and/or loss of license.


If you've ever listened to ham radio operators talking, you know that it's pretty bland. Not that that's bad. The problem with that is that the government tests for it, and they can do anything they want with the tests. Not everyone would qualify either.

So, free speech is out the window in your happy, little world.

[Captdon]

Not really. Those telephone lines are federally regulated.

True but cable lines aren't. I can use cable and avoid it all. You aren't suggesting regulating ATT and Satellite be regulated but cable to be unregulated are you? I used ATT as a reference point because I have it.

You took a penny ante look at the post. My site is available everyplace, ATT line, satellite and cable. How does the government regulate one without regulating the other? How would the government regulate foreign sites?

No, the idea of regulating the internet is nuts.

[Captdon]

Information goes from one server to another, across the US. Internet as a whole is not secure. And internet admins can see everything.




Major Lambda

Mostly true but you can encrypt your site to it's destination. Doesn't work if any decent hacker wants to see it but it exists. Makes you wonder how to secure government servers other codes.

[Lummy]

Lummy's idea is interesting from a perspective of looking at possible fixes, not necessarily advocating them.

Broadcast radio and television stations are private entities, yet they are required to adhere to federal guidelines regarding access and content. The internet is rapidly replacing those entities as the primary source of news and entertainment. I could easily see how internet sites could be classified in the same way as ABC, CBS, NBC, or FOX and requiring them to adhere to the same or similar standards.

I am not suggesting it should be done, but I see how it could be done.

One big difference is that FB and other privately-owned public sites are filled with content provided by millions of people mostly with no vested financial interest in the site, being the public. Television and radio are not.