Free speech network bans people from using certain terms

A conservative-focused “free speech” social network has banned users from using certain words.

In video posted online this week, Mike Lindell, who launched his new platform “Frank” to a limited set of users on Friday, waxed lyrical about the app’s liberal nature... then explained its strict rules.

Proudly describing it as a “YouTube-Twitter combination”, he told prospective Frank recruits: “You’re not going to have to worry about what you’re saying… and worry about being able to speak out freely.

“We found from our founding fathers and the Supreme Court and stuff what defines free speech.”

However, he added: “You don’t get to use the four swear words: the c-word, the n-word, the f-word, or God’s name in vain. You can’t – free speech is not pornography.”

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While banning racist terms is a positive step for any social media platform, it seems the irony of a free speech advocate banning certain terms is lost on Lindell.

Indeed, other platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, which Lindell is critical of for “policing speech”, do not impose an outright ban on particular words but prohibit hate speech in general.

Lindell is the CEO of company MyPillow (you can probably guess what they make). An ally of Donald Trump, he was banned from Twitter in early 2021 after promoting the conspiracy theory that Joe Biden won the Presidential election because of electoral fraud. He has also promoted the toxic plant extract oleandrin as a cure for coronavirus.

While he claims his app will be bigger than YouTube and Twitter, not everyone is convinced:

Somehow, we think Jack Dorsey doesn’t have anything to worry about.