> The American Bill of Rights was written at the time of the printing press, a machine that anyone could buy, the street corner, on which anyone could sell a paper, a system of public roads and walks for distribution, and thousands of small businesses that comprised the “market,” any one of which, absolutely, could refuse to sell a paper, but no one or two (or five in obvious collusion) were capable of censoring a single voice out of public existence. Today, the internet is the gateway through which almost our entire democracy is conducted.<p>I can't figure out if I missed a /s somewhere in this section. Is the author seriously arguing that it was easier to distribute information in the late 1700s and early 1800s than it is now if you're off of the internet?<p>Is he also arguing that FB/Twitter/Apple/Google/Amazon have a monopoly on the ability to communicate on the internet? HN isn't hosted on any of these and I'm writing this just fine.<p>> the printing press, a machine that anyone could buy<p>I can't find the number, but I'm honestly curious. How much did a printing press cost in 1796? How much was the paper for it?
As technologists we have always had a responsibility beyond just doing the job. We don’t all see it that way I know, but for example we choose to use encryption for reasons that should not even be up for discussion. We have platforms and services that can be used to provide some direction to society, when we as fellow human beings see it going awry. Sure there are those who will overstep the mark, but you cannot hide anymore and this is the reality that any would be fascist has to face.