Like universities, social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube should only remove speakers and participants who are making true threats or inciting violence.

That’s the proposition under debate at Reason’s first West Coast Soho Forum Debate, which takes place at our headquarters on Thursday, November 1.

If you live in the Los Angeles area or are planning to attend our 50th Anniversary celebration, please join us for an evening of spirited conversation, food, drink, and conviviality as legal blogger Ken White of Popehat and historian Thaddeus Russell of Renegade University debate the meaning of free speech and open expression in the internet era.

Ken White

Thaddeus Russell

President Donald Trump put social media companies on watch earlier this year, saying, “If you look at what is going on at Twitter, if you look at what is going on in Facebook, they better be careful because you can’t do that to people. You can’t do it.” He was referring to allegations that social media giants are biased against conservative voices, a charge that has led many on the right to argue for federal intervention to ensure that social media is open to all voices.

Twitter and Facebook have argued, however, that as private companies, they are free to set the terms and conditions on usage of their platforms. As a result, they have ‘de-platformed’ accounts belonging to those, such as conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who have engaged in speech that has been viewed as defamatory or inflammatory. YouTube, which is owned by Google, has banned certain channels and “demonetized” others, meaning that operators can no longer earn advertising revenue for particular videos.

On November 1, please join us as we kick off Reason’s 50th celebration with our inaugural West Coast Soho Forum debate.

Thursday, November 1
Doors open at 6:00 p.m., Debate begins at 6:45 p.m.
Reason’s LA HQ, 5737 Mesmer Ave. 90230
Map: http://bit.ly/2n4AMFa
Parking: Complimentary valet
Food and drinks will be provided.
RSVP by October 25 to Mary Toledo, 310-391-2245 or mary.toledo@reason.org

Thaddeus Russell from Renegade University will defend the proposition that, “like universities, social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube should only remove speakers and participants who are making true threats or inciting violence.” Ken White will argue against the proposition.

As an Oxford-style debate, the audience will vote on the proposition ahead of the debate and again afterwards. The winner will be the person who moves more people in their direction.

You’ll also have the opportunity to tour Reason’s Los Angeles HQ with your favorite Reason writers, including Katherine Mangu-Ward, Matt Welch, and Nick Gillespie.

This event is free of charge to those who RSVP in advance.

For more information about Soho Forum, a monthly libertarian debates series held in New York and co-sponsored by Reason, visit: https://www.thesohoforum.org