By Eric Barendt
President Trump will leave many toxic legacies: a bitterly divided country, a declining belief in the democratic process, and the weakened authority of the USA in the free world, but one fortunate consequence might be the opportunity he has given to reconsider the position of social media platforms and their apparent ability to switch off the capacity of politicians (and others) to communicate their messages to the public.
DownloadTwitter’s decision to suspend the account of outgoing US President Donald Trump has thrust internet governance into the mainstream. ERIC BARENDT contemplates the future of freedom of speech on social media platforms.
- Intermedia Issue:
- Vol 49 Issue 1
- Issue Date:
- March 2021
Eric Barendt
Emeritus Professor of Media Law, University College London 
