Topic: Algorithmic Censorship

Carroll Quigley’s book Tragedy and Hope is noted for having its printing plates destroyed due to its exposure of a secret global government. In the modern era, censorship has shifted to "freedom of speech without reach," where algorithms suppress content on X, Facebook, and Gmail. While authentic voices are turned down, propaganda narratives and distracting content are promoted to maintain control over public perception.

Dean Henderson recounts his experience of having his website removed by WordPress and his bank account frozen by Synchrony Bank in early 2020. He describes how he successfully pressured the bank's CEO to unfreeze his funds by threatening legal action and a report to the Comptroller of the Currency. Despite the digital "whack-a-mole" game of censorship, Henderson notes that his book sales increased as a result of the de-platforming.

The Web Bot project has been officially retired due to the "ham-fisted" censorship prevalent on social media platforms. Cliff High explains that users now self-censor their language to avoid triggering algorithms, which prevents the gathering of untainted linguistic data. He uses the example of creators avoiding specific words like "Arduino" to illustrate how language is being corralled into limited domains.

The current political climate in America is characterized by extreme polarization and a shared drift toward authoritarianism on both the left and the right. The "fake news" phenomenon has led to the implementation of opaque ranking systems and algorithms that dictate public discourse. While the right is criticized for centralized control, the left is accused of "nanny state" behavior through PC culture, word policing, and the justification of violence against labeled opponents.