I generally applaud free speech. When platforms moderate content based on political views, it can be dangerous and a slippery slope.
The issue is that Substack is not only allowing content creators that engage in hate speech, but also profiting on that content. This has been going on for years now and Substack refuses to take action, making many others wary about being part of this platform. Given that many other platforms have drawn the line at hate speech and violence, it would be nice if Substack would address the contradictions between their Terms of Service and reality.
"Substack cannot be used to publish content or fund initiatives that incite violence based on protected classes. Offending behavior includes credible threats of physical harm to people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or medical condition."
What this letter is saying is that some of these Nazi commentators are crossing that line and are not being held accountable. And many of us would like Substack's leadership to explain why this is happening.
I was not aware of this at all. So thank you for writing this. I find this deeply disturbing. I agree that content moderation is not always as clear cut as we may want it to be and sympathise with those who have to do that job. At the same time, I also believe, like you, that there are some absolutes that should not be permitted. Following your post, I have also read what Jonathan Katz has written and I intend to follow up with my own research on this as well. When I began writing on Substack, the platform had a fresh, clean feel. I am sorry that such monsters have appeared here. This is deeply distressing to me. Unless this changes, somehow, I will take my writing elsewhere.
"Substack cannot be used to publish content or fund initiatives that incite violence based on protected classes. Offending behaviour includes credible threats of physical harm to people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or medical condition."
If you make rules, you have to abide by them, or they are meaningless.
Here's my take on the issue of Nazis on Substack:
I generally applaud free speech. When platforms moderate content based on political views, it can be dangerous and a slippery slope.
The issue is that Substack is not only allowing content creators that engage in hate speech, but also profiting on that content. This has been going on for years now and Substack refuses to take action, making many others wary about being part of this platform. Given that many other platforms have drawn the line at hate speech and violence, it would be nice if Substack would address the contradictions between their Terms of Service and reality.
Specifically, at https://substack.com/content they state:
"Substack cannot be used to publish content or fund initiatives that incite violence based on protected classes. Offending behavior includes credible threats of physical harm to people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or medical condition."
What this letter is saying is that some of these Nazi commentators are crossing that line and are not being held accountable. And many of us would like Substack's leadership to explain why this is happening.
I was not aware of this at all. So thank you for writing this. I find this deeply disturbing. I agree that content moderation is not always as clear cut as we may want it to be and sympathise with those who have to do that job. At the same time, I also believe, like you, that there are some absolutes that should not be permitted. Following your post, I have also read what Jonathan Katz has written and I intend to follow up with my own research on this as well. When I began writing on Substack, the platform had a fresh, clean feel. I am sorry that such monsters have appeared here. This is deeply distressing to me. Unless this changes, somehow, I will take my writing elsewhere.
"Substack cannot be used to publish content or fund initiatives that incite violence based on protected classes. Offending behaviour includes credible threats of physical harm to people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or medical condition."
If you make rules, you have to abide by them, or they are meaningless.