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Crackdown On Internet 'Hate' in Canada

Posted by timothy on from the more-laws-are-surely-the-answer dept.

Baldrson writes "CanWest is reporting that 'The federal government is preparing to introduce a sweeping round of legislation that would combat the "explosion" of hate sites on the Internet.' A priority of this legislation is more international enforcement under the Council of Europe's protocol on hate speech. The hate-speech legislation is tied to a bill to reduce trafficing in women and children."

7 of 51 comments (clear)

  1. threat to freedom of speech? by BigChigger · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Interesting to see how the /. community receives this. If you can't say even unpopular things, then you have no freedom of speech. This will also eventually be used to persecute religious speach.

    this is doubleplusungood.

    BC

    1. Re:threat to freedom of speech? by crimethinker · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Yes, I agree with you that limits of free speech (except for the pathological "yelling 'fire' in a crowded theatre" cases) are a bad thing. What I disagree with you about is that this law wil lbe used to protect religious speech. I submit that, based on recent cases in Canada, it most certainly will be used to oppress religious groups who speak out against "politically corrrect" beliefs.

      It's one thing to say "homosexuality is wrong, and we should execute the sodomites! Let's all go home, grab our guns, and get to work." What I am claiming, backed by items in the news, is that a church which simply said, "homosexuality is a sin, and we should not pretend that it is simply another 'life choice'," was threatened and/or fined under anti-hate speech laws.

      With such regulations apparently coming to the internet (as far as the site or its owner are in canada), things will only get worse. They are creating a nation of thought-criminals through silly laws like this.

      -paul

      --
      Pistol caliber is like religion: everyone has their favourite, and theirs is the only right choice.
  2. Sounds like 2 unrelated matters on the same law... by Zangief · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Why this "hate-speech" is tied with slave traffic?

    I think the politicians are just trying to make the two problems like one, so they can pass a law to cut on free-speech, because, you know, nobody can support slave trade...

    I get that impression from RTFA...maybe I shouldn't read before giving my opinion.

  3. Re:I am glad there is such a thing by Zangief · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It pissed me right off when I saw CNN and FoxNews cover the story of about 12 people pouring French wine down the gutter but not covering the millions of people pouring through the streets in support of the French view of not invading for stupid reasons.

    That's very good, and all, but I fail to see how such legislation would prevent CNN and Fox to present only one side of the story.

  4. So... by GypC · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...speech is free only as long as it is politically correct in Canada.

    Some freedom.

    You have to take the good with the bad, otherwise you are not free.

  5. This doesn't help too much. by FooAtWFU · · Score: 2, Insightful
    This will just get the people who would like to start a hate site even more upset and more liable to hate the person/group in question... then they get some offshore hosting and you still have the hate sites.

    Heck, if you were a Nazi and thought that the Jews had an evil conspiracy to control the banks and the government, this kind of legislation wouldn't exactly make you change your mind.

    --
    The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
  6. Slow down... by alexo · · Score: 2, Informative


    The operative words here are "preparing to introduce". So far it is a declaration of intent by the minister, no such legislation has been introduced yet (as you can find out on the Canadian Parliament site.) Don't panic just yet.

    Meanwhile, you can check the existing legislation on "Hate propaganda".
    There is a good article explaining the issues, an overview of the applicable law, the relevant statutes and regulations of the criminal code and a recent amendment.

    Also see the Internet Content-Related Liability Study on the applicability of the existing legislation to the internet.