Podcast, Interview, Fireside Chat
E17: Big Tech bans Trump, ramifications for the First Amendment & the open Internet
- A strategy to resolve pandemic and free speech issues is being actively implemented by Chamath, David Sacks, and Friedberg, with the podcast continuing weekly for the "next few weeks" to navigate a "super messy" political landscape.
- Imminent dangers are predicted for the "white knuckle 10 days" leading to the January 20th inauguration, including potential unrest, Donald Trump declaring laws without Congress, or ad hoc press conferences, alongside fears of a loss of democracy.
- Deplatforming decisions are expected to trigger a "sweeping attack on free speech" and "widespread purge" of accounts, driven by a "threat inflation" cycle that may justify seizing power or ending liberties.
- The "deep state," FBI, and civil servants are anticipated to act as a stress test leading to "major, major arrests" and the identification of criminals through mechanisms like the Office of the Pardon Attorney website.
- A "permanent shift in power" is forecasted where tech leaders face pressure from employees and incoming senators, potentially resulting in the breakup of big tech or the creation of a regulatory body within the "next two to three years."
- Foreign governments may risk "nationalization" of platforms or refuse to rely on them, leading to the emergence of free market solutions like Bitcoin, Mastodon, and peer-to-peer software.
- Future legislative actions may include an "online bill of rights," "internet courts," or amendments to pardon powers, while reconciliation is predicted to require a party to step down first during 2021 and 2022.
- Donald Trump's legacy is expected to include an "enormous asterisk" and a potential loss of his party's share of power in Washington, with the deplatforming narrative shifting from prosecution risks to censorship accusations.
- Internal social suasion from "Democrat employees" in the Bay Area is cited as a primary driver for current deplatforming actions, though concerns exist that subjective judgment creates an "infinite slippery slope."
- Material expectations include a "stone cold lock" on Trump's prosecution absent deplatforming, while the current trajectory is viewed as allowing half a dozen oligarchs to determine public information.