First Amendment on the web

[Wonderbread Leotard]

Originally Posted by beyelzu

Actually, just for the record he didn't actually say that

True. He's very modest.

Flaja:

To what extent should a moderator/owner of a web forum that is open to the general public for the purpose of discussing politics be allowed to edit posts or ban posters? How much should such web forums be governed by the First Amendment?

In the legal theory underlying U.S. law, property rights tend to take precedence over other legal rights related to discursive expression. Thus, having ownership of the means of discursive production is key. The American proprietor of a vBulletin forum is (by default) no more obligated to provide anyone else a platform for expression than is the corporate owner of a Hollywood studio.