Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Say What?


(The Definitive Version)

So, there's government action, and there's actions by private parties. The former can be unconstitutional where the latter cannot.

“We hold that portions of the @realDonaldTrump account ― the ‘interactive space’ where Twitter users may directly engage with the content of the President’s tweets ― are properly analyzed under the ‘public forum’ doctrines set forth by the Supreme Court,” Buchwald said in her ruling.

That was in May; Judge Buchwald ruled that Trump couldn't block Twitter followers from his account.  Tuesday, Trump finally unblocked 7 followers.  This prompted joy in Twitterland, because Trump plays for Mudville:


And no, not everyone is rejoicing:

But those who are, are exercising their Constitutional rights:
And the difference is, these people are not the President of the United States.  Their Twitter feeds are not public fora as set forth by the Supreme Court.  Which is the difference between Google and Facebook deciding who can use their platforms, and for what purpose; and the use of such platforms by government officials, who can turn their sites and feeds into a public forum.  Trump is the one "treading on very troubled territory," not Google, or Facebook, or even private Twitter users.

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