Facebook...or Brainbook??? Facebook is looking into the future...

And it’s a little Sci-Fi. In an article on TIME's website written by Lisa Eadicicco, Facebook's VP Regina Dugan announced that they are working toward a Facebook that is powered by...you guessed it...your brain. Typing at approximately 100 words per minute, Dugan claims it will be capable of "decoding a person's neural activity." Dugan also stated that the program may also help those with communication disorders. 

While this was not the only futuristic plan Dugan spoke about, it does seem like it might be the most controversial. While the technology needed to produce this kind of program is years, if not decades, away from creation, there are already some potentially major problems with this kind of program. 

For example, privacy may be of cause for concern when it comes to a program that knows what you are thinking and is able to post those thoughts onto the largest social media platform. Maybe it's just me, but I filter a LOT of my thoughts before I say them out loud. I do that even more so when I'm typing on the internet. 

Luckily, this program and others like it are still miles away from being created, and in the meantime, perhaps Ms. Dugan will come up with answers to some of the more concerning aspects of their future-facebook. 

Twitter to the Rescue

I read an article today that turned out to be a two-part piece on the recent lawsuit filed against the federal government by Twitter. It piqued my interest. In an article where the author remains "null" from TIME, I learned that Twitter was defending the rights of our First Amendment by refusing to share the names of account-holders who spoke negatively of President Trump and other government organizations and agencies.

Calling themselves "ALT," these groups challenged the new regimes policies, and gained a lot of media attention. One account in particular, "@ALT_uscis" posted material that was very anti-Trump, prompting government officials to demand the individual's identity. This sparked Twitter to file the lawsuit.

"The rights of free speech afforded Twitter ’s users and Twitter itself under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution include a right to disseminate such anonymous or pseudonymous political speech,"

This lawsuit was almost as quickly dropped, as the government rescinded its demand for @ALT_uscis' identity.

My opinion? Bravo Twitter. Unless the Twitter user broke laws, instigated fighting or violence of any kind against another person, place or event, there is NO EXCUSE WHATSOEVER for the government to demolish our First Amendment right to freedom of speech. They have no authority to do so and I will stand by any organization who upholds that right.

Our First Amendment Rights are explained here.