The usual suspects of late liberal capitalism are frightened. Be in no doubt of this. They are, even now, tearing off the worn velvet glove of liberal values to show their rusty iron fist but they dare not act as brutally as they would like (except through proxies like Netanyahu or Zelensky).
The neoliberals and their type are forced into stealth oppression and stealth totalitarianism – a ‘buro-fascism’, the distinctive fascism of legislation, regulation, lawfare, cultural engineering and attempting to ‘chill’ dissent through police action. Has the futile attempt to suppress protest over the evil assault on Gaza not demonstrated this?
The Workers Party of Britain is a free speech party supportive of the new social media despite its flaws because its very existence smashes the control of neo-liberals who own the corrupted legacy media.
We will undertake a review of all legislation and regulation to define only what is strictly harmful speech (intimidation and bullying rather than robust opinion) as well as all the emergency powers and related regulation that the State has provided itself with in order to repress any attempt at a fundamental change in the capitalist system. We will make it a criminal offence to deny a political organisation or individual a platform.
We are so confident of our position that we encourage debate with our opponents on equal grounds – whether of the lacklustre centre or the right. We will undertake a review of media ownership with a view to banning foreign ownership of the means of communication and information where it is clear that owners are interfering directly or through algorithms in free debate or are acting as agents under the instructions of foreign interests.
We will also be watching the emergence of artificial intelligence with great attention. It is too early to have a specific policy on what may be the next major technological revolution but we can institute a national debate on risks and benefits and develop policies that ensure that AI products and services and block-chain based cryptocurrencies and contract systems operate wholly in the interests of the working classes.
Julie Lowe 