“I’m close to a First Amendment absolutist in the sense that I generally don’t believe that even offensive speech, mean speech, etcetera, it should be certainly not regulated by the government,” Obama claimed. …

Obama’s remarks came in response to questions about AI-generated content and the role of Big Tech platforms in censoring content. Obama appeared to support free speech, claiming that social media platforms should take the “default position” of “free speech rather than censorship.” However, Obama correctly warned that the First Amendment — particularly in cases of child pornography and human trafficking —- has limitations.

“We have laws against certain kinds of speech that we deem to be really harmful to the public health and welfare,” Obama added.

[That’s not exactly being an ‘absolutist,’ but it’s also not an unreasonable position. Obama was attacking Clarence Thomas over Thomas’ suggestion in 2021 that Big Tech platforms could be regulated as “common carriers,” which is a worrisome argument. The disclaimers in this case appear to be consensus exceptions to free speech, and nothing more. — Ed]