arguing that Google and Facebook should do the censoring is not just an abdication of responsibility; it is evidence of unusual naivety. As if these two companies were not already mighty enough, European politicians apparently want to give them the power to limit their citizens' free expression.
In "The Square and the Tower," Niall Ferguson critiques the tendency to offload the responsibility of moderating content onto tech giants like Google and Facebook. He argues that this stance is a significant oversight, suggesting that it shows a lack of understanding of the possible consequences that such power can have on free expression. This delegation of censorship could further entrench these companies' influence, allowing them to control the discourse in a democracy.
Ferguson highlights the irony of European politicians seeking to empower these corporations, which are already immensely powerful, with additional authority over citizens' speech. This move raises concerns about the implications for individual freedoms and questions the wisdom of enabling private companies to dictate what constitutes acceptable expression in society.
