Everyone Should be Concerned About The Restrict Act S.686

submitted by raven9 from self.politics

We ought to be concerned about the, Restrict Act. S.686 It is being promoted as the 'ban TikTok' Act but it appears this act will enable the government to arbitrarily restrict how US citizens may communicate with people around the world. This would obviously be far more reaching than just TikTok. It would mean the government could ban access to any communications platform on which they do not control the content. This is a Censorship Enabling Act, an attack on 1st Amendment Rights to freedom of speech and everyone should remember censorship is the tool of the liar.

S.686

To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to review and prohibit certain transactions between persons in the United States and foreign adversaries, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 7, 2023 Mr. Warner (for himself, Mr. Thune, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Moran, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Sullivan, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Collins, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Romney, and Mrs. Capito) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Full Text - https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/686/text

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[–]Drewski 6 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Yeah this is totally authoritarian. I'm no fan of TikTok, but I don't need the government telling me which apps I'm allowed to use and which websites I can visit.

[–]SoCo 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

That seems structured in a way, that appears to involve three branches in doing so, but just allows very vague unilateral decisions to block anything for any reason. It is a censorship bill with no rails.

[–]Musky 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (13 children)

At a glance I have no problems with it. Americans are susceptible and have been subjected to foreign propaganda long enough. Now we just need to get rid of the domestic propaganda.

[–]SMCAB 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Musky, come on bro, this is like saying that you have no problem with Sect 1021 of the 2012 NDAA because your last name isn't Hussein. Authoritarian legislation always turns on its advocates.

[–]Musky 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

This does look overreaching and prone to abuse under closer examination. I do think we need something to break away from the propaganda cycle, both foreign and domestic, but especially foreign.

[–]VulptexVoluntaryist 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (10 children)

So now even you're okay with the government dictating what we can and cannot see, what is true and not true. There is truly no hope.

[–]Musky 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (9 children)

Average people are too vulnerable to platforms like TikTok. I don't know this is the answer, but something needs to be done. Look at the insane concepts running rampant and unchecked. It's essentially an attack on reason and sensibility to the detriment of those who consume the media and everyone else around them.

I don't think the answer is to let TikTok keep doing it.

[–]VulptexVoluntaryist 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

Average people are too vulnerable to right-wing ideologies. I don't know this is the answer, but something needs to be done. Look at the insane concepts running rampant and unchecked. It's essentially an attack on reason and sensibility to the detriment of those who consume the media and everyone else around them.

I don't think the answer is to let the right keep doing it. BANNED.

[–]Musky 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

Internal propaganda is still better than foreign propaganda.

[–]VulptexVoluntaryist 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

"Internal propaganda is still better than foreign propaganda." — Kim Jong Un, explaining why North Koreans shouldn't have internet access

[–]Musky 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

I understand and agree with the sentiment. No matter what kind of awful nonsense Fat Kim imposes upon his people, at least it's by a person who ostensibly cares about his own country. Other countries hate America and they want to destroy it. We shouldn't let them.

It's very telling nobody cares about free speech until the free speech of China is affected. We don't have free speech anyways, why allow Chinese propaganda designed to destroy America.

[–]VulptexVoluntaryist 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

We need free speech, don't you get it anymore?

[–]Musky 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Citizens need free speech, which we already do not have. Foreign corps can go fuck themselves.

[–]VulptexVoluntaryist 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

And censoring information and communications, and the government deciding what is right and wrong, is not free speech.