Big Tech censorship strikes in Canada – it’s worse than you know

Independent MPP Randy Hillier, from Lanark-Frontenak-Kingston made the announcement via Facebook that Twitter has once again locked him out of his account. This time, his account was locked for daring to share a video produced by 6 Canadian doctors who dissent from the government and media’s Covid-19 narrative.

Here is what Twitter told the Ontario parliamentarian “@randyhillier – what happened? We have determined that this account violated the Twitter rules. Specifically, for: Violating the policy on spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19. We understand that during time of crisis and instability, it is difficult to know what to do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Under this policy, we require the removal of content that may pose a risk to people’s health, including content that goes directly against guidance from authoritative sources of global and local public health information.”

As if this message to an elected Canadian parliamentarian wasn’t condescending enough – Twitter added more fuel to the fire by closing their communication with Mr. Hillier by saying:

“For more information on COVID-19, as well as guidance from leading global health authorities, please refer to the following links: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public from WHO FAQs about COVID-19 from the WHO.”

If they can remove the President of the United States from Twitter – what would make anyone believe they wouldn’t continue silencing voices they don’t agree with? Did we dilute ourselves into believing that their censorship would stop at the leader of the free world?

They have only been emboldened on their quest to remove all voices that dissent from the “authoritative sources of global and local public health information.” This will only lead social media giants to find more reasons to ban those that dissent from mainstream viewpoints on other topics like the idea of catastrophic climate change.

It’s already begun

Diverge Media recently spoke with former PPC candidate Mark Friesen, the Saskatchewan man who has been fined numerous times for exercising his right to peaceful assembly and protest. He told us that he has also become the target of social media tech giants.

Accountant denied him service because of “political activities”

Mr. Friesen told Diverge Media that his accounting service – KPMG in Saskatoon will no longer provide him tax services because of his political activities. He now has to find a new accountant and start all over. If this is where society is headed we may as well signal that free speech is dead – its now tow the line or else face the potential loss of your livelihood at the hands of the mob.

Mr. Friesen also Diverge Media that he had been banned from Paypal and Payoneer – a Paypal alternative for what he believes is the result of the viewpoints he holds on certain topics. He told Diverge Media he couldn’t even open a Payoneer account after his Paypal account was banned.

He told Diverge Media “they sent me a verification, the second I hit the verification they sent me a follow up saying ahh nope – you’re on a list.” I asked if Paypal gave any reasons for the removal – he said that it was a generic letter for violation of standards. I asked if he was trying to appeal the decision of Paypal and he told Diverge media “no, I could waste my time much better than that.”

I asked Mark if he felt the decision to ban him was politically motivated – here’s what he told us:

” oh, 100 percent – oh 100 percent. It’s connected to my website… they just go to my website and they see what my website promotes and that’s all they need. And of course, you know on the website there’s a Covid-1984 tab, there’s a UN agenda tab – so it’s probably not going to be long before GoDaddy, my server says you’re gone to I would think.”

I asked Mr. Friesen if he felt that censorship would get as extreme as it had in the United States, where social media platforms like GAB had to develop all of their own independent server infrastructure to continue to operate. He told Diverge Media “yea, not only that, that’s coming for sure but just to deal with financial – it’s not going to be long before the bank freezes your account because you don’t fit in with the narrative. I mean if Paypal, a financial services company can do it to you – the banks not far behind. Just imagine what that looks like. You want to talk social credit – we’re in it.”

I agree with the sentiment. If we allow financial services to work with big tech to target individuals whose speech they disagree with – what’s to keep the banks preventing those same targeted individuals from banking with them? The government needs to step up and prevent big tech censorship. Social media companies also need to remember that they’re either a platform or a publisher – they can’t be both.

Diverge Media is an independent Canadian media company dedicated to bringing you the stories that matter. We do not, and will not accept government funds for our work. Therefore, we rely entirely on the generous donations of readers/viewers to help us continue bringing you the stories that matter. You can help Diverge Media to continue emerging on the Canadian media scene by purchasing some swag at our online store – or by donating in the form below. All the best, the Diverge Media team. 

Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash, Photo by Franki Chamaki on Unsplash