Wednesday’s events in Washington will inevitably dictate the future — both for the US and, to a lesser extent, the rest of the world — for years to come. Already, some seismic shifts seem to be in motion. An unprecedented development naturally triggers the demand for extraordinary action. But if 9/11 taught us anything, it is that a nation swept in emotion may not fully appreciate the implications of popular demands.
When the mob incited by Donald Trump assaulted the symbol of American democracy, it did not take long for US social media giants to react. From the outset, Trump’s entry into politics has been tied to the paradox of social media — what was supposed to bring us closer has instead made us irreconcilable. It was only a matter of time that politicians would tap into this divisiveness; it just so happened to be the leader of a global superpower.
As they try to douse the fire lit by Trump, tech giants have resorted to censorship. Beginning with deleting some of the US president’s contentious tweets, Twitter ultimately suspended both him and other accounts that had challenged the US election results. Meanwhile, Google and Apple deplatformed Parler. Many other platforms that have become havens for extremist conspiracy theories are likely to face action in the coming days along with the accounts of people who hold such views. But before we rejoice, we must consider the alarming consequences.
In the US and beyond, we may find ourselves the victims of a new wave of repressive censorship. While it may be Trump’s minions today, tomorrow the same treatment could be meted out to those raising a voice for legitimate causes that may run against the interests of those with influence. Repressive regimes around the world are surely taking notes. If US companies can justify censorship to maintain order then why can’t they?
We would also be fooling ourselves if we believe extremists will vanish if we silence them. Many questionable ideologies have thrived far more effectively underground. As the experiences of many nations battling their own extremists show, effective deradicalisation is impossible without some measure of positive engagement. In any case, it is our tendency to isolate ourselves in echo-chambers of our choice that has led us to this moment.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2021.
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