[seneca]

> freedom of speech just means the government can't create laws to censor you.

No, it absolutely doesn't. You're confusing Freedom of Speech with the 1st Amendment, which is a single instantiation of the value of Freedom of Speech.

[celticninja]

Yes but a private company has absolutely no requirement to provide you with free speech forum.

Also Freedom of Speech is nothing if it is not somehow enshrined in law. There is no universal freedom of speech, like gravity or the speed of light. Freedom of Speech is whatever is detailed in law, so the 1st Amendment is probably the best example of it however. It allows hate speech (if you dont call for violence), because you can be free to express your opinions without the government shutting you down or arresting you. But that protection does not mean others cannot avoid you or withdraw services from you if they diagree with you.

[slowmovintarget]

I used to think this same thing until fairly recently. I made arguments that "it's not your website" meant that they didn't have a responsibility to uphold restrictions aimed at government.

I now think this is an incorrect view. Freedom of Speech is a societal value, and yes, the First Amendment is where the U.S. holds its governments to the standard. But if it is a value first, before it is a law, then we really ought to expect more from what is rapidly becoming our primary form of discourse.

We should value Freedom of Speech wherever speech occurs. I'd argue that these days, especially in a pandemic, the majority of our ideas get exchanged over the internet, in forums, on Facebook, on Twitter, and not in the public square or in newspapers. Holding that Free Speech is required for a free society, requires that we should expect its protection even when the venue changes.

The government must not censor. But we ought to hold private companies who monetize public discourse to the standards we value. Whether those requirements, those values, require laws applicable to these new venues is separate debate, and definitely worth having.

We really ought to require that these companies should not silence or censor someone speaking their mind.

All of that said, there is no right to be heard.