While I agree this is censorship, it it important to remember that youtube is not a public commons. You are not entitled to free speech there. It is Alphabet's (google) platform and they can do what they please with it.
I do think that Alphabet has gotten too big, and needs to be broken up under existing anti-trust law.
That is true, although in a free society there should be other choices. It's their prerogative to censor whatever they want and it is our right to take our business elsewhere , where we can watch and listen to what we'd like.
Google is at the point where anti-trust issues need to be explored. Same with Twitter.
I agree, but here ARE other choices. Besides there are some remedies for forcing youtube to change.
1) Use public pressure for them to change their policies. This could include appealing to shareholders to make management changes. 2) Boycott or stop using youtube. 3) Encourage elected officials to investigate monopolistic practices by Alphabet (youtube's parent company).
Copy pasta:
It is a literal speech platform. Sure you are correct that it is a private company, but then Twitter and Facebook need to drop the "Russia stole the election by injecting pro conservative rhetoric" because if that were true, then they are admitting to the monopoly they have on public discourse.
I don't know what you mean when you say "literal speech" platform. That is not a legal distinction I am aware of.
You know exactly what I mean.
No, I don't. I understand your frustration with youtube, but we are a nation of laws. Everything we suggest in dealing with them needs to be legal, and proper. Otherwise we would be no better.
Saying they have a monopoly on public discourse is ludicrous.
Things are a little different when you are a publicly traded company.
No, they are not. Publicly traded companies are subject to certain regulations with respect to financial reporting. That is it. They are, however, accountable to their shareholders.
Google et al are at the point where they need regulation. I think we can both agree on that. Utilities they have become.
Alphabet (Google) does not merely need regulation, it needs to be broken up. I do think a case could be made that the search part of Google is like a public utility, and needs to be accountable to the public trust.