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The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) has a clear stand against censorship of online political speech. They make the argument that such acts endanger basic First Amendment rights. Although, while not oblivious to what misinformation and harmful content can cause, the organisation is hammering down how these issues should not justify suppressing political discourse. The latest discourse encircling Trump's social media bans embodies this very convoluted issue.

The ACLU's stance is that as much as platforms have their right to set their very own terms of service, shutting out and banning a political figure (yes, even one as controversial as Donald Trump) solely on their political views sets a very hazardous example. Censorship of this type can lead to a negative effect in the sense that others may fear to express themselves to avoid similar consequences. The union argues that a more conducive approach to this would be to cultivate a culture that allows for fostering free and open dialogue and to counter misinformation with factual information and alternative views instead of enforcing a ban to censor information.

The ACLU understands the importance of dealing with harmful content such as acts of violence and so on. However, they champion clear, carefully focused policies that target specific illegal acts rather than broad limitations on political speech. They highlight the importance of clarity and transparency in decision-making for content moderation, making sure users understand why their content was flagged/removed and have leeway for appeal.

In the end, the ACLU believes that an open and free flow of ideas, even if they are considered controversial and derogatory, is appropriate for a well-functioning democracy. To censor political speech, even in online settings, downplays a rudimentary principle and threatens the creation of an environment where only specific views are accepted and tolerated. The union champions a more meticulous approach that is bent on free speech while making sure harmful content is adequately dealt with.

Pilane Tshepiso Shatiso 

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Speech Blogger