Re: Parler

[Rod Beck <rod.beck () unitedcablecompany com>]

Unless the courts rule or the legislators enact legislation making them a public utility. In legal circles there is a 
theory that platforms like Facebook, messaging services, etc. might achieve such importance to public life and 
discourse as to merit regulation under the grounds they are an essential utility. I am neutral regarding this idea - I 
have not studied it and also realize that Amazon is not strictly speaking a social media. So my point is tangential.

As a big fan of the 1st amendment, but someone deeply appalled by the riot last week and keenly aware of how social 
media are letting the mud to the surface, I am very perplexed how to reconcile free speech and the garbage flowing 
through our social streets.

________________________________
From: NANOG <nanog-bounces+rod.beck=unitedcablecompany.com () nanog org> on behalf of Brielle <bruns () 2mbit com>
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2021 5:20 PM
To: sronan () ronan-online com <sronan () ronan-online com>
Cc: nanog () nanog org <nanog () nanog org>
Subject: Re: Parler

They’re a private company.  The same statues that give providers the right to refuse spam and block abuse give them the 
right to fire customers for whatever reason they want.

If their contract with Parler says they can be terminated for violations of TOS / AUP or (more likely) for any reason 
Amazon decides, then it’s a done deal.

‘Frea Speeks’ as we liked to joking call it when spammers made the claim, is a govt thing.  Private businesses aren’t 
bound by the 1st amendment.

Sent from my iPad

> On Jan 10, 2021, at 6:44 AM, sronan () ronan-online com wrote:
>
> While Amazon is absolutely within their rights to suspend anyone they want for violation of their TOS, it does 
> create an interesting problem. Amazon is now in the content moderation business, which could potentially open them up 
> to liability if they fail to suspend any other customer who hosts objectionable content.
>
> When I actively hosted USENET servers, I was repeatedly warned by in-house and external counsel, not to moderate 
> which groups I hosted based on content, less I become responsible for moderating all groups, shouldn’t that same 
> principal apply to platforms like AWS and Twitter?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Jan 10, 2021, at 3:24 AM, William Herrin <bill () herrin us> wrote:
> > Anybody looking for a new customer opportunity? It seems Parler is in
> > search of a new service provider. Vendors need only provide all the
> > proprietary AWS APIs that Parler depends upon to function.
> > https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/09/amazon-parler-suspension/
> > Regards,
> > Bill HErrin