Podcasting Censored by Government

PodCoward writes "VH is blogging that in Belgium a former talk-show host and now member of parliament for the biggest political party, Jurgen Verstrepen, received a fine of 12,500 Euro because he hadn't asked permission for his podcast." From the article: "The decision is apparently politically inspired and motivated by content, although formal reasons like non-compliance with Flanders' media regulation have been put forward in the motivation of the decision to fine. The issue has raised some serious concerns about free speech on the Internet in Flanders, about the definition of 'broadcasting,' and about territoriality."

Comments

Re:European internet control needed?

[Joey7F]

He also did not say that he wanted the US to control the web. Let me guess...you are anti-American?

--Joey

Re:Typical Americano-Centric post

[bnenning]

However, maybe if we stopped allowing whites to publically slur other races sooner, we could have ended segregation sooner, prevented Japanese Americans from being sent to internment camps, and prevented our own ethnic crimes from being committed in Tuskeegee.

All of those travesties were committed by racist governments. Such governments are not going to pass racist speech laws (at least not laws they intend to enforce), and non-racist governments aren't going to commit such actions regardless of whether racist speech is illegal. In terms of the effect of those laws on the general public, as you said we can look at Europe, and when we do we find lots of racism still. It may be swept under the table more than it is in the US, but that's worse.

You can't cry fire in a crowded theater

That "speech" has no expressive content; its only purpose is to cause chaos and destruction. "Race X is evil" may be intended to cause chaos, but it doesn't do so in the immediate situation, and also expresses an (almost certainly moronic, but usually sincere) opinion.

you can't call Bush a baby killer without proof

Sure you can, otherwise there would be a whole lot of leftists in prison. (That's because "public figures" have less protection against libel and slander than ordinary citizens, which is necessary so that political debates don't end up with everyone involved being arrested).

you should not be able to go onto a radio show and say blacks and jews are causing an increase in crime and disease and should be thrown in jails.

That slope is very slippery and it's not going to stop right where you want it to. Take your example: there are loads of data showing that blacks commit violent crimes at higher frequencies than whites. Criminalize "racist" speech and you'll stop people from mentioning or researching things like that for fear of prosecution, which will also stifle attempts at finding ways to improve things.