The "original encryption" of symbolism, different languages, allegory, and parables cannot be silenced. As I've been exploring in my Search Engine Stupidity series, a lot of players in this world now are trying to control speech (and through this thought) via "data-driven"/algorithmic approaches. ¹

Ultimately, this approach is futile because the correspondence between tokens (the characters/forms that we recognize; what computers can count) and meanings is not fixed. Furthermore, the "sum of the parts is not equal to the parts of the sum" (might have butchered this quote a bit). You can string together words together in many ways—this is a fundamental idea in "generative grammar"—how we can systematically build up meanings from a finite set of rules. Simply blocking some keywords (including hashtags) cannot prevent meanings from being conveyed. Indeed, silence too communicates...

I don't expect "free speech"

While having "free speech" is something many of us would prefer to have, there are many reasons why this isn't some kind of normative requirement for a "free/functioning society".

In the United States, we have seen certain parties at time press for more "free speech" to allow the spread of all things lewd, crude, and rude. Then, when "free speech" means revealing deeds of darkness then suddenly we get a narrative of fighting disinformation. Lol.

I think a lot of these things are simply outside of our control. What we can do, however, is learn to use language(s), symbols, and more to say what needs to be said. We can move with swiftness some "algorithm" (implemented by people, of course) cannot keep up with.

One thing I find kinda funny about all of this is that the way to do this isn't technical so much as it is personal. Meaning, the tech/channels we have available now are perfectly adequate for all sorts of communication. But it takes tact to navigate them without getting banned and stuff. Obviously, you don't want to use naughty words that will get your accounts flagged, blocked, shadow-banned, etc. Operating in this way, you can utilize big platforms like Facebook, Google, Twitter, and so on—extracting maximum value—while not capitulating to their ideological agendas.

It is an inversion of subversion!