Free speech is pure bulls***t: Emmanuel Macron takes aim at big tech
India Today
French President Emmanuel Macron blasted social media platforms in India, calling unrestricted free speech pure bulls***t without transparent algorithms and warning of serious democratic risks from opaque digital systems.
In unusually blunt remarks during a visit to India, Macron sharply criticised social media platforms and the tech executives who claim to defend unrestricted speech online. His message was direct.
“Free speech is pure bulls***t if nobody knows how you are guided through this,” Macron said, accusing platforms of hiding behind rhetoric while steering users through opaque algorithms.
Macron argued that the real issue is not speech itself but the invisible systems shaping what people see.
“Some of them claim to be in favour of free speech. We are in favour of free algorithms — totally transparent,” he said.
Without clarity on how algorithms are designed and deployed, Macron warned, democratic systems could suffer.
“Having no clue about how their algorithm is made, how it’s tested, trained and where it will guide you — the democratic consequences of this bias could be huge,” Macron said.
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