Why do Twitter's decisions have geopolitical significance? Tech has levelled borders around the world, but nations reinstate them: internet shutdowns, firewalls, censorship, etc. But it's Silicon Valley that holds the key to today’s public speech forums. 1/4

Modern, digital public speech forums are privately owned, meaning Silicon Valley, not Washington, determines what content and which world leaders are silenced across global cultural contexts. And those contexts diverge. 2/4

The EU government bans hate speech, but US corporations ban people. AWS can terminate Parler hosting today, and another website tomorrow. Apple & Google decide which apps reign globally, subject to intervening executive orders. 3/4

But growth in internet users is driven by India, China, the Global South. They’re not going to trust the US to hold the key. 4/4

Straight from Twitter's 2019 SEC filings: "...loss of world leaders, government officials, celebrities... may harm our business and operating results." #TWTR mDau

. @ShiraOvide calls for special Twitter rules for world leaders, as CNBC says markets voted against #TwitterCensorship of Trump. On AWS cancelling Parler, it "has the legal right to do so, but we should think twice when companies with unelected CEOs can turn off service." $TWTR