Over the last few days, there’s been a lot of discussion about kiwifarms being taken offline by Cloudflare. As is expected from HN, the average response was one appalled by the apparent free speech violation, and a general concern for the precedent being set. While I understand the sentiment, and have thought the same in the past ( with Aaron Swartz or Chelsea Manning); I want to pose an alternative question: What’s the precedence set by continuing to do business with kiwifarms? Over the last few days there’s been a lot I’ve wanted to say, but I felt like I couldn’t speak. I’ve been on HN for the better part of a decade, but I can’t say anything as myself. Instead I need to use a throwaway account and only connect over a VPN, because I’m a trans woman talking about kiwifarms. I’ve seen how dangerous it can be for a trans woman to stick her head up. I’ve watched friends and strangers alike be harassed, attacked, SWAT’d, and doxxed. Not public figures (though they don’t deserve death threats either), just regular trans people trying to live their lives and speak their experiences. I no longer feel like I can speak up, for fear of illegal reprisals. Why should they be allowed to infringe on my rights? Why should I have to hide? Cloudflair’s decision to stop doing business with kiwifarms is a step towards free speech, not away.
Story Published at: September 6, 2022 at 02:21AM
Story Published at: September 6, 2022 at 02:21AM