Story about BLM Co-Founder Not Allowed Pursuant to Facebook’s Version of Free Speech

For many people it is an interesting fact that the co-founder of organization Black Lives Matters has gone on a expensive home buying spree. Hasn’t this story been told hundreds of times over the years when famous people do some expensive signaling? It sometimes raises interesting questions about where these people got all of that money. In this case, it was determined by the New York Post that Patrisse Khan-Cullors bought four houses worth $3.2M. In a country that values free speech, information should flow and people can make of these stories what they want. For some people it won’t be a big deal. For others, these purchases are controversial, because it suggests that money that should be going to a non-profit cause is being siphoned off into luxury.

The story about this story is much more interesting. It was reported by the New York Post. But Facebook (and Instagram) will not allow you to share this story, as discussed by FOX:

Facebook has barred users from sharing a New York Post report from last week about the controversial property acquisitions by Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors.

Users of the social media giant noticed on Thursday they could not share the link to a story that shed light on Cullors’ multi-million-dollar splurge on homes. Fox News can confirm that an error message appears whenever users try sharing the article on their personal Facebook page or through the Messenger app.

When users attempt to send the link, an error message alleges that the article “goes against our Community Standards.”

The New York Post published this follow-up story today, where Khan-Cullors claimed in a strangely narrowly-tailored defense: ““I have never taken a salary from the Black Lives Matters Global Networks Foundation,” she also said Thursday.”

Again, this real estate buying spree could be an interesting story for many people, especially for those who wonder whether their donations to BLM (and its many affiliates) are really helping struggling black people.  The NYP adds: “But in insisting she did not take a salary from the organization’s non-profit foundation, Khan-Cullors left unsaid whether she was paid through BLM’s network of similarly named for-profit entities.” Shouldn’t people be able to freely share this information and make up their own minds about whether it is interesting?

Numerous Facebook users, however, were blocked from sending the NYP story.  One of those people, Abigail Shrier, was blocked from sending it as a private message on FB Messenger. Outraged, she wrote: “Facebook will not allow you to post this NY Post story or even to message it to another person. (I just tested it). So Facebook is now effectively opening your mail and reading the contents for ideologically objectionable material.”

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Shrier (who has been victimized by silicon valley regarding her book–and see here) (with the modern version of the ACLU joining in with this censorship) is following up on this disturbing censorship.

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Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth is an attorney focusing on civil rights (including First Amendment), consumer law litigation and appellate practice. At this website often writes about censorship, corporate news media corruption and cognitive science. He is also a working musician, artist and a writer, having founded Dangerous Intersection in 2006. Erich lives in St. Louis, Missouri with his two daughters.

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Avatar of Bill Heath
    Bill Heath

    In addition to Parler struggling to revive itself, Mike Lyndell, the MyPillow fellow, is launching a new social media site before the end of the month. His will disallow obscenity and “taking God’s name in vain.” I’m going to check it out. I don’t use FB more than once a month, have never used Twitter or Instagram – and see no reason to change. Anybody getting hung up on Lyndell’s sanctimonious limitations might compare his to FB’s, which should read, “Nothing, truthful or false, that besmirches any Democrat any time anywhere for any reason, will be published.” At least Lyndell is being honest.

  2. Avatar of Erich Vieth
    Erich Vieth

    I posted this on FB this morning (or at least tried to):

    For those who use the term “PM” when referring to FB Messenger, you might want to reconsider the “P,” because the message is not meaningfully “private.” I have personal first-hand proof that FB is censoring and deleting messages that contain PERFECTLY LEGAL and undisputably TRUE content that raises questions regarding some financial aspects of BLM. Coincidentally, this morning, a friend told me that FB Messenger deleted a “PM” message he sent to a friend on a totally innocuous topic. A prominent Twitter user just tweeted that it’s like the phone company is listening in our conversations and deciding what is appropriate to say. . . . Now I’m also wondering whether this post will be throttled or deleted by FB. Beware that FB’s business model is to convince you what to think on some important nationwide issues.

    Bonus points if you would be so kind to tell me whether you can even see this post. I know for sure (based on dozens of reports on Twitter) that FB would delete this post If I included the newspaper article link regarding the BLM topic.

  3. Avatar of Alan
    Alan

    I read this Eric, I guess P means Permission and M means to Mingle. Good article, cashing in on a charity or other non profit organization is nothing knew. How low can a person go.

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