In today’s world, there is a lot of confusion about what “free speech” truly means, especially regarding the influence of Big Tech. As Americans continue to idolize tech billionaires, it’s essential to understand the legal boundaries of free speech and how these platforms operate, especially when children’s safety is at stake.

What Is Free Speech?

Free speech, as protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, is often misunderstood. The First Amendment restricts the government’s ability to limit speech, but it doesn’t grant individuals the right to say whatever they want on private platforms. Whether it’s a social media site, a restaurant, or a business, private companies have the right to moderate or restrict speech on their terms. The idea that users are entitled to free speech on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Telegram is a misconception. These platforms are private businesses, not public forums.

However, these tech companies promote themselves as champions of free speech while still exercising significant control over the content they allow. This creates an illusion of free speech where, in reality, users must follow the rules set by these billionaires.

The Cost of Unchecked Platforms on Children’s Safety

One of the most alarming issues today is the way tech platforms are being exploited for child abuse and sex trafficking. While some Big Tech companies claim they are creating safe spaces, many have been slow or reluctant to address the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation on their platforms. Reports have shown that Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even Telegram have become hotbeds for child trafficking and the distribution of abusive material.

For example, Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, has been praised for allowing free speech on his platform. However, recent investigations reveal that Telegram has been slow to cooperate with law enforcement, particularly in cases involving child abuse. French authorities recently arrested Durov for allegedly failing to provide information in child exploitation cases. This arrest raises serious concerns about the safety of children online and how tech platforms, even those claiming to defend free speech, might be complicit in illegal activities.

These companies prioritize profit over safety. They know tightening security would cost them time and money, so they continue allowing unsafe environments to thrive. Children are the ones paying the price as these platforms enable predators to find and exploit them.

The Greed Behind Big Tech

At the heart of the problem is greed. Tech billionaires like Durov, Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), and Elon Musk (Twitter) have made fortunes by creating platforms that allow anyone to voice their opinions. However, these platforms have also created opportunities for criminals, including child traffickers. Instead of focusing on safety, these companies prioritize user engagement, which increases ad revenue, data collection, and, ultimately, their bottom line.

Despite the ongoing abuse, companies like Twitter have cut teams responsible for monitoring child exploitation. Under Elon Musk’s leadership, Twitter reduced its child safety monitoring staff, even though Musk publicly stated that protecting children would be a top priority. The result? An increase in dangerous and illegal content that harms vulnerable young users.

Similarly, Facebook and Instagram have failed to take meaningful steps to combat child trafficking on their platforms. Lawsuits have even been filed against these tech giants, accusing them of promoting child trafficking. Instead of acting decisively to protect children, these billionaires protect their business models and profits.

Protecting Free Speech While Safeguarding Children

There is a clear need to balance free speech with the responsibility to protect children. While people have the right to express their opinions, this does not mean tech platforms should turn a blind eye to illegal and harmful activities on their sites. Big Tech’s refusal to adopt stronger protections is not about defending free speech—it’s about greed and profit.

It is crucial to demand more accountability from these platforms. The public must understand that free speech doesn’t give anyone the right to endanger others, particularly children. If platforms are not ensuring safety, they should be held accountable for their negligence.

The Solution

To protect free speech and ensure the safety of our children, tech companies need to take a stand against illegal activities. This means investing in moderation, cooperating with law enforcement, and putting ethics before profit. While Big Tech platforms offer valuable services, they cannot continue to put children at risk to grow their empires.

Parents, governments, and communities must stay vigilant and pressure these platforms to enforce stronger safety measures while protecting free speech. Free speech should never come at the cost of our children’s safety.

In conclusion, the battle for free speech must not ignore the importance of protecting society’s most vulnerable. As long as greed drives tech companies’ decision-making processes, our children will remain in danger. It’s time to demand better.

Source: healthimpactnews.com

South Korea’s tech-savvy population, high-speed internet, and deep gaming culture once made it the perfect setting for metaverse platforms. Despite these strengths, several leading South Korean metaverses are now shutting down due to low user engagement and controversies.

The most recent closure is 2nd Block, a metaverse created by Dunamu, the operator of South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit. Dunamu announced it will close on September 9 due to declining user activity since the pandemic began to ease.

This follows the closure of Seoul’s $4.5 million metaverse project, which will shut down on October 16 after less than two years. The platform was designed to offer a digital space for residents and tourists, but it failed to maintain interest.

Even metaverses still in operation are struggling. Zepeto, developed by South Korean internet giant Naver, has shifted focus to the global market, boasting 20 million monthly overseas users, compared to just 1.2 million in South Korea. However, Zepeto has faced domestic criticism after reports emerged of children’s avatars being sexually harassed, with predators coercing minors into sharing explicit images in exchange for in-game items.

In response, South Korean lawmakers proposed stricter penalties for virtual sex offenders, but the bill failed to pass, leaving the issue unresolved. The challenge of tracking predators across international borders complicates enforcement.

In a related legal battle, liquidators of the defunct Singapore crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC) have filed a $1.3 billion lawsuit against Terraform Labs. The lawsuit alleges that Terraform misled 3AC about the stability of its stablecoin TerraUSD (UST) and its sister token LUNA. Terra’s collapse in May 2022 led to a $40 billion loss in the Terra ecosystem and forced 3AC into bankruptcy. Terraform Labs settled a $4.47 billion SEC lawsuit in June. Meanwhile, Terraform’s co-founder, Do Kwon, remains in Montenegro awaiting extradition.

Source: cointelegraph.com

Apple Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to prevent the upload and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its iCloud service. The lawsuit, filed by a minor identified as Jane Doe, claims that Apple has engaged in “privacy washing”—promoting a public image of strong privacy protection while allegedly neglecting to implement effective safeguards against the transmission of harmful content.

According to the lawsuit, Apple is fully aware that iCloud has become a significant platform for the distribution of child pornography. The plaintiff alleges that despite this knowledge, Apple has chosen not to adopt industry-standard practices for detecting and removing CSAM from its services. Instead, the company is accused of shifting the responsibility and costs of ensuring a safe online environment onto children and their families.

The lawsuit criticizes Apple for failing to live up to its stated privacy policies. “Apple’s privacy policy claims that it collects users’ private information to prevent the spread of CSAM, but it fails to do so in practice—a failure that Apple was already aware of,” the lawsuit states. This alleged negligence has led to Apple being accused of misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and violations of federal sex trafficking laws, California business and professional codes, and North Carolina consumer protection laws.

Jane Doe, through her guardian, seeks to represent a nationwide class of individuals who have been victims of child sexual abuse due to the transmission of CSAM on iCloud over the past three years. The lawsuit demands a jury trial and calls for declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as compensatory and punitive damages for all class members.

This legal action against Apple adds to a growing list of lawsuits the company is facing. Earlier this year, two antitrust class actions were filed against Apple, accusing it of monopolizing the smartphone market with its iPhone and engaging in anticompetitive practices.

As the case progresses, it raises significant questions about the responsibility of tech giants like Apple to protect their users, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, from harmful online content. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for how companies handle privacy and security in the digital age.

The plaintiff in this case is represented by Juyoun Han and Eric Baum of Eisenberg & Baum LLP, and John K. Buche and Byron Ma of The Buche Law Firm PC. The case, Doe, et al. v. Apple Inc., is currently being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California under Case No. 5:24-cv-05107.

If you have been a victim of child sexual abuse as a result of CSAM being uploaded to iCloud, you are encouraged to share your experience in the comments.

Source: topclassactions.com