John Kerry, the former Secretary of State, recently sparked controversy by suggesting that the First Amendment poses a significant hurdle for government bodies seeking to combat what they perceive as "misinformation" and "disinformation."
During a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in New York City, Kerry expressed his concerns about the growing discontent and distress over social media, as reported by RedState. He highlighted the difficulty in building consensus around any issue, especially in democratic societies, due to the increasing influence of social media.
"The referees we used to have to determine what's a fact and what isn't a fact, they've been eviscerated to a certain degree. People go and then people self-select where they go for their news or for their information, and then you just get into a vicious cycle, Kerry lamented. He further explained that the democratized media environment has made it more challenging to reach agreements than in the past.
Kerry then made a statement that has since drawn significant attention: "Our First Amendment stands as a major block to the ability to be able to hammer [disinformation] out of existence. What we need is to win...the right to govern by hopefully winning enough votes that youre free to be able to implement change."
This comment has been interpreted by some as an admission of a desire to subvert First Amendment protections on freedom of expression, particularly on digital platforms. Kerry questioned whether "Democracy can survive unregulated social media," labeling it as a potential threat to democracy.
This rhetoric is not new in American politics. Democrats have often portrayed anything they disagree with as a danger to the American democratic system. The First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, has been a significant obstacle for those on the authoritarian left seeking to exert government control over everyday Americans. They have attempted to circumvent free speech protections by labeling dissenting voices as "misinformation" and "disinformation."
While attacks on free speech have so far been indirect due to the First Amendment, there is growing concern that direct attacks on the amendment itself may be on the horizon. It may seem unlikely that those seeking to repeal this part of the Constitution will gain enough support, but gradual efforts towards this end are already underway.
The strategy appears to be to portray speech as a danger to American society and convince the public of this narrative. If successful, this could lead to individuals willingly surrendering one of their most fundamental natural rights. Kerry's remarks provide a glimpse into this potential agenda, highlighting the importance of vigilance in protecting the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.
Login