What's happening to YouTube?
I can still log on and find racist videos hating on white people, Christians, men (especially white men) pro-life and same-sex marriage advocacy, but simply playing a video of recent 'school shooting survivor', David Hogg, speaking his own words recently gained LiftTheVeil a strike on his channel and you tube removed his ability to livestream.
As of 3/13/18 Nathan's channel had actually been terminated
(today it's back up π)
But he's not alone in YouTube censorship woes, as you'll see if you keep reading.
Maybe it's just as valid, though, to ask what is happening to America, in general?
We are living in a country where the 1st Amendment is in serious jeopardy.
Asking questions about the moon landing out loud may get you censored, evidently. π
We need to discuss Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012
βοΈThe text is there, but here are some intriguing points of interest which lend to the reason for this post:
"βSec. 501. (a) The Secretary and the Broadcasting Board of Governors are authorized to use funds appropriated or otherwise made available for public diplomacy information programs to provide for the preparation, dissemination, and use of information π’π§πππ§πππ ππ¨π« foreign audiences abroad about the United States, its people, and its policies, through press, publications, radio, motion pictures, the Internet, and other information media, including social media, and through information centers, instructors, and other direct or indirect means of communication."
(emphasis added by this lady βοΈ)
Further:
"β(b) Rule Of Construction.βNothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Department of State or the Broadcasting Board of Governors from engaging in any medium or form of communication, either directly or indirectly, because a United States domestic audience is or may be thereby exposed to program material, or based on a presumption of such exposure. Such material may be made available within the United States and disseminated, when appropriate, pursuant to sections 502 and 1005 of the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1462 and 1437), except that nothing in this section may be construed to authorize the Department of State or the Broadcasting Board of Governors to disseminate within the United States any program material prepared for dissemination abroad on or before the effective date of the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012."
The way I understand it, is that Smith-Mundt (HR 3342) essentially protected Americans from governmental propaganda, and the 2012 amendment removed that protection.
Why would they do that? π€
Well, if you were wealthy, corrupt, had an agenda, and saw a threat to that agenda, what would you do to erase that threat?
If you were telling a great big lie (or a bunch of them) and someone started calling you out, maybe you'd ignore it at first, but once others started paying attention to that little guy saying, 'hey...you're being lied to' you'd probably want to shut him up, right? I think that's exactly what's happening with YouTube censorship.
You Tube has recently enabled a battalion of minions from across the globe to help them censor out bullies and make content less offensive, but why are channels who simply ask questions being attacked, receiving strikes, and being completely removed from you tube?
Why are Americans allowing people from other countries to censor what they can see on their own internet?
Some say it's been this way for a while, but for many others the increase in you tube censorship is undeniable and most certainly focused on anyone telling a story that differs from that of our mainstream media machine.
If you're interested in alternate views on current, or even past events, if you question the narrative being spoon-fed to you by our mainstream media, this should concern you, YouTube shutting down alternative thought news channels should worry you and the recent arrest of a relatively popular alternative news couple should terrify you.
YouTube started out as, and remains to some degree, a place for entertainment. But over the years people have found it to be an awesome place to share ideas, learn new things, and exchange differing opinions. Those days could soon be nothing more than a sweet memory if we continue to allow changing definitions this much weight over our constitutional and God-given rights of freedom to express ourselves.
We really need to come together and figure out what can be done to stop this from happening. Sharing this information with as many people as possible while we still can is a great start but there has to be more.
I just don't know what it is.
Kitty videos, fail compilations, and cooking tutorials can be very entertaining, but I'd much rather dig into alternative opinions on fascinating subjects, hear other people's opinions on real issues, even if they don't line up with those of our government or media, and I don't think it's right that someone from another country gets to decide whether or not I have that option.
For anyone who's interested, and has the time to dig more into the Smith-Mundt issue, there are some links below that offer a bit more insight into the people who have a hand in our media and what, if any, agenda they may have.
USIA (it's redirected to Wiki for some reason π)
International Broadcasting Act
Broadcasting Board of Directors
πThanks, loves β£οΈ
https://steemit.com/@somethinfishy
https://steemit.com/@lifttheveil411
Shalom, y'all π€