Facebook, the social media giant, dubbed “digital gangsters” by the British Parliament has apparently decided to bully conservatives who write about, what is being seen by many as the Jussie Smollett “hate hoax.” Articles about the case written by conservatives were apparently seen as unclean and not fit for human consumption, according to a report at Twitchy.
On Monday, Twitchy informed us that, “American Conservative journalist Rod Dreher recently attempted to post his piece dissecting the crumbling Jussie Smollett “hate crime” narrative on Facebook.”
This is what he got:
You are not allowed to say on Facebook that Jussie Smollett carried out a hate hoax. pic.twitter.com/jnFx7aQFbS
— Rod Dreher (@roddreher) February 17, 2019
Other conservatives got similar results:
This is what I get when I try to share that article pic.twitter.com/nOu6dd1Fyz
— Mark “learn 2 code” C ???????? (@UntraceableMC) February 17, 2019
My friend @JenKernsUSA’s incisive column on #jussiesmolett and the hoaxes of the past, has been blocked by @facebook for “violating community standards” — but you can read and share it here — https://t.co/qHkRBzdP6x
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) February 16, 2019
Both @Facebook and @Instagram have been on a roll trying to censor conservative writers this weekend. First they blocked @JenKernsUSA and froze her Instagram account over this column on Jussie Smollett. https://t.co/A62kGjAfPR
— August Takala (@RudyTakala) February 17, 2019
Matt Yglesias, however, was able to successfully post an article on the subject from ABC News, making it appear as though only conservative posts are being censored.
I am eager to embrace anti-Facebook narratives, but in the spirit of not spreading misinformation based on early partial reports I tried it myself after I read Dreher’s post and there was no problem. pic.twitter.com/28dqGOw0kn
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 17, 2019
Dreher was eventually able to post his link:
Am now told that Facebook has lifted the ban on my #JussieSmollettHoax post. Good. I'm leaving my FB account deactivated all the same. https://t.co/UNGfIeGFlU
— Rod Dreher (@roddreher) February 17, 2019
But that didn’t sit well with some others.
Facebook dropping the mask more and more.
— Grossbeak (@Larry1914) February 17, 2019
Not just a suppression of free speech but a suppression of truth
— Todd McDaniel (@tmacyork) February 17, 2019
Someone reported you. FB has a poor algorithm for handling complaints and complainers can shut down accounts very easily now
— andthenwhat? (@NWcarol28) February 17, 2019
It’s possible that someone reported your post and that it threw it into an automated queue for manual review. Not saying FB isn’t cancer, but Twitter is worse. We either use these platforms to spread truth while we can or not. At least, that’s how I see it.
— Steve Skojec (@SteveSkojec) February 17, 2019
so nice of facebook to make me look bright for never joining https://t.co/M2RrmXL6wR
— Peter Ingemi (@DaTechGuyblog) February 19, 2019
— julian sheppard (@JxSheppard) February 17, 2019
Unfortunately, the Duke Lacrosse Team could not be reached for comment. Sigh.
— Esteban Cafe (@esteban_cafe) February 19, 2019
FB is garbage. I left in November and I’ve never felt freer from a drag on my time and intelligence.
— Caleb Shoemaker (@CalebEShoe) February 18, 2019
Incidents like this are the reason Facebook is included in the cabal some writers call “Silicon Valley Axis of Evil” working to stifle conservative speech online.
Much of this post was first seen at Conservative Firing Line
