Freedom Of Expression Always Under Attack

Political Censorship Now Widespread

The idea that saying negative things about certain selected groups of people is "hate speech", and is so very bad that it is not entitled to free speech protections, now seems to be widespread. In the USA, the First Amendment limits what governments can do to restrict so-called "hate speech" but the government is in fact a small player in the mass communications market. Note the report below for instance:

Google insisted it already had complied with court requests to identify individuals accused of using Orkut to spread child pornography and engage in hate speech against blacks, Jews and homosexuals

Not only is "hate speech" forbidden but people who engage in it can be tracked down and legally pursued in various ways. The day would seem to be not far off when saying negative things about Leftist politicians is declared "hate speech" -- with a Left-leaning mass media gleefully enforcing suppression of such speech.

Never have blogs been more needed. That Google also owns the biggest blogging service -- blogspot -- is therefore a source of some concern for the future. Since I use blogspot, I once again encourage people to bookmark my list of mirror sites.

I have just put up on PC Watch an extended argument about why "hate" speech should not be censored.

posted by jonjayray at 12:11 AM

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ISPs as Enemies of Free Speech

You can't rely on your Internet Service Provider. Whether what you post is right or wrong, if your ISP comes under any sort of attack over something you have written, you are toast. Take this report. A blogger had posted audio files of radio broadcasts he was critical of. The radio bosses sent his ISP a letter claiming that the posting was illegal -- a breach of copyright law. The blogger said that the files were fair use under copyright law. So was the matter tested in court? No way! After just a few days, the ISP deleted the site! End of story. No free speech for that guy, right or wrong.

posted by jonjayray at 12:10 AM