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Internet Filters - Libertarianism is Hate Speech?

Posted by Cliff on from the go-figure dept.

John Deere asks: "Just went live with a libertarian web-based discussion site a few days ago and today one of our members posted that our news and political discussion site has been listed as a 'Hate Speech' site by SurfControl ("details) Needless to say, some of our slacker members are now unable to access the site, due to blocks at their places of employment. Now, I don't mind our site being blocked by employers who want to keep their employees working instead of arguing objectivism vs. utilitarianism. It does concern me, however, that it appears to be quite easy to be listed as a 'Hate Speech' site, and not have much recourse. My questions are, has anyone been successful in changing the categorization of their site by one of these filtering services, from negative to neutral or positive? How much pressure was required and how long did it take?" It would be interesting to note how many GOP and Democratic sites are also listed under the same tag at SurfControl. I have a hard time seeing political discourse being listed as hate speech, but maybe this is a case of a single comment or post getting the entire site banned. Has anyone been able to negotiate a change of status with the various filtering services out there? If not, is there any legal way such changes can be forced by some form of arbitration or legal action?

1 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Nto a hate site? by pauldy · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    http://www.libertyforum.org/showflat.php?Cat=&Boar d=news_philosophy&Number=230396#Post230396

    Damb this is just someone trying to pander the masses to his cause. His intentions may not be to be a hate site but look at the link it seems that it is. And of course because he is labeled as such they are all just looking to crush his free speech. Their are tons of examples of full blown and borderline hate speech if you look through the site. He got what he deserved and if people are using the product that blocked his site I say good for them at least they got this one right.

    Cliff I have to ask do you ever look through these before posting or are you so inundated with submissions that this crud slips through sometimes.