zlacker

I understand that this post is flagged because it can start flame wars and “not curious conversations”, but I’m curious about what people here from different parts of the world are seeing for these search terms. If censorship is indeed happening either due to manual flags or “AI” algorithms, people need to know what’s happening and if this is just anecdotal or geography specific or could be spreading to other countries in other forms for other search words and terms.

I don’t have an Instagram account to verify this myself.

>>AnonHP+(OP)
I get the same "We've hidden these results" on Instagram in Spain. But #democrats (plural) works and #fucktrump as well (a user here was saying that was censored but #fuckbiden was allowed)

>>pedrog+31
Same here in Germany

>>AnonHP+(OP)
UK: can confirm that '#democrat' gives "we've hidden these results". While typing in the search box it auto-suggests "democrats crying memes", which is not hidden.

>>louism+T3
Same in France, both #fucktrump and #democrats are censored, #republicans and #fuckbiden are allowed

>>AnonHP+(OP)
Poland, www, desktop: #democrat shows me only suggestion of #démocratie and a spinner, #republican works like usual.

>>AnonHP+(OP)
Ireland: can confirm that both '#democrat' and '#democrats' gives "we've hidden these results"

>>AnonHP+(OP)
Confirmed in Australia, still happening

>>thiht+X4
Same in Colombia, too

>>AnonHP+(OP)
HN flags and removes lots of this sort of discussion for not aligning with their goals (imho, anecdotally). Censorship is a creeping disease that already has its foot over the winning line.

>>pedrog+31
Same in Canada

>>AnonHP+(OP)
Norway

Searched for #dnc #democrat right now, and got relevant results.

>>SSLy+d6
Same here in Sweden

>>pjc50+j4
Mentioned this to people at lunch and it's already been "corrected".

>>sirsin+ya
moderation to keep things on-topic is not the same as censorship. spaces are allowed to, and should, exist for certain topic areas.

>>93po+Pq
Yeah, there's absolutely nothing tech or intellectually provoking about about this post! Wait...

>>93po+Pq
Ultimately, it is the same as censorship. That's why it's so tough to find the right balance between fostering a community and extinguishing it.

We call it differently because its purpose is different, not its actions.

>>vool+47
Is this reportable to the EU as an EU resident?

>>AnonHP+(OP)
Examples of pairs of keywords and their effects:

- #dnc (no results) vs #rnc (normal results)

- #voteblue (no results) vs #votered (normal results)

- #fuckbiden (normal results) vs #fucktrump (no results)

Most likely explanation is whatever algorithm change they pushed on 20/Jan to boost Trump-aligned posts and bury Trump unaligned ones was accidentally tuned too aggressively and became too obvious. Please accept our apologies, we will be rectifying the issue and fixing the Algorithm so the manipulation of public opinion is properly hidden, as intended.

>>93po+Pq
In this case though, it's pretty clearly on topic. This is a major tech company and they are claiming that it is due to a software bug.

>>pjc50+El
Also in the UK… it's fixed in part - works on my phone but not in my browser

>>pedrog+31
I only have an X account and got no censorship for #fucktrump

>>AnonHP+(OP)
Kenya: was blocking #democrat a couple of hours ago.

>>sirsin+ya
foot over the winning line? bratna, they've been dancing in the endzone for well over a decade, arguably since the mid 2000s when the W Bush media convinced the average voter to "support the troops" even if they're against fighting two wars at once.

this isn't foot over, this is consolidation. to quote a marvel movie: "we're in the endgame now"

>>AnonHP+(OP)
> If censorship is indeed happening either due to manual flags or “AI” algorithms, people need to know what’s happening and if this is just anecdotal or geography specific or could be spreading to other countries in other forms for other search words and terms.

Not only it is happening. It is also influenced by the biggest bidder.

>>philis+Cv
>Ultimately, it is the same as censorship.

No, freedom of speech is not censorship, no matter how hard so many try to push the idea. Censorship involves the use of force, be it direct or implied, not others choosing not to give you support. Inherent in the right to express an opinion is the right to not express an opinion, both yourself and on your own private forum. Hacker News (or any other private site) are not public forums, the public forum is the internet. If HN wishes not to allow certain things, that's literally freedom of speech. Of course, those choices can in turn be criticized (both here within rules at HN's choice but also on other forums entirely or by creating your own), and the criticism criticized in turn and so on. Depending on the arguments made and social and economic pressure it creates some involved may change their stances, or not.

But none of that is censorship. Censorship is the death of that process, force being used to put an end to the circle of social/economic discussion.

>That's why it's so tough to find the right balance between fostering a community and extinguishing it.

It's hard to do so sure, but not because of some "censorship" thing but just because managing human relationships and networks and community is hard.