Topic: Hateful Content

The European Commission has launched the DSA Transparency Database, revealing that platforms like TikTok and Pinterest are removing over 70,000 pieces of content per hour in the EU market. "Hate speech" and "illegal speech" are cited as primary categories for removal, alongside intellectual property infringements on Amazon. The hosts advocate for Podcasting 2.0 and RSS as the only remaining avenues for uncensored communication.

The UK's proposed Online Safety Bill is discussed as a potential model for making "awful but lawful" content illegal. The hosts defend Elon Musk's online behavior, characterizing it as harmless trolling rather than targeted hate speech against marginalized groups.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, temporarily adjusted its hate speech policy to allow calls for violence against Russian soldiers and Vladimir Putin in certain Eastern European countries. The company also eased restrictions on praising the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion within the context of the Ukrainian defense. This move was characterized as the "weaponization of a social network" and led to Russia's decision to ban Facebook within its borders.

Facebook's algorithm changes have reportedly led to a 45% decline in engagement for President Trump's page. Additionally, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is now assisting YouTube in policing "extremist" content, raising concerns about the censorship of legitimate conservative voices.

Curry highlights a specific phrase in proposed net neutrality rules: the prohibition of blocking "lawful" content. Using Black's Law Dictionary, he distinguishes between "illegal" (forbidden by law) and "unlawful" (not authorized by law). He warns that this terminology could allow the government to regulate "hate speech" or "bullying" as "unlawful" traffic.