CNN’s Brian Stelter delivered a monologue on ‘Reliable Sources,’ the show he anchors, decrying those who oppose information platforms being able to censor material they deem to be lies.
To combat "information pollution," CNN’s @brianstelter proposes a “harm-reduction model.”
“Reducing a liar's reach is not the same as censoring freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is different than freedom of reach.” pic.twitter.com/vui4KDWZvp
— Reliable Sources (@ReliableSources) January 31, 2021
Such an idea is unlikely to sit well with many in the media.
CNN’s journalists should be outraged by this. And from a cynical point of view, CNN’s executives should be worried about the ramifications of this chilling standard it sets. https://t.co/exvAO1bxS2
— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) January 31, 2021
Journalist Glenn Greenwald detailed why he believes Stelter and CNN are way out of line here.
Beyond all the creepy aspects of *journalists* again taking the lead in demanding media voices be repressed, @brianstelter's claim that "freedom of speech is different than freedom of reach" is totally false and has been rejected by courts for decades. https://t.co/8RP5zIv4pY
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 31, 2021
Imagine if you're an anti-Wall Street group and you want to march on Wall St & the city tells you: oh, you can march, but not on a busy street. We'll give you a permit to march on a deserted street in Queens.
You think that's not a free speech violation? Tons of caselaw on this
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 31, 2021
Also, CNN lies and spreads conspiracy theories constantly. They're a pro-Democratic Party outlet that barely airs any dissent from the DNC line. If @brianstelter's standards for banishing Fox were applied equally, it'd affect all cable news outlets, not just one.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 31, 2021
Hey @brianstelter, I know you don't do dissent on your show — can't have anyone challenging you or upsetting your DNC audience — but the next time you want to claim "freedom of speech isn't freedom of reach," read this on "free speech zones" by @ACLU:https://t.co/8eCG1mE8Uq
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 31, 2021
Who gets to be anointed as the arbitrator(s) of Stelter’s “harm-reduction” initiative?
Journalist for censorship https://t.co/HKUB4U54om
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 31, 2021
No greater projection than this https://t.co/0OjswqNINT
— Benjamin Weingarten (@bhweingarten) January 31, 2021
"Freedom of reach"? Removing Fox from cable, for conservatives, is Democracy Dying in Darkness. https://t.co/cNlypX3lSE
— NewsBusters (@newsbusters) January 31, 2021
This is sufficiently dangerous to the free press that it’s time for mainstream journalists to denounce Stelter. https://t.co/E0WqGoCz9C
— Emily Jashinsky (@emilyjashinsky) January 31, 2021
The Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee notice how Stelter’s commentary takes a dig at the First Amendment.
Will reporters condemn this attack on the First Amendment? https://t.co/37HfPktsRM
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) January 31, 2021
Freedom of speech exists in the Constitution because a group of statesmen believed that the best antidote to harmful speech was more edifying speech. Absurdity and untruth are shown for what they are when the information marketplace exposes them.
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Editor’s note: Additional tweets and text have been added to this post.
