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Canada's Wayne Crookes Sues the Net
newtley writes "Wayne Crookes, the Green Party of Canada's ex-financier, is in effect trying to sue the Internet. He's going after the Wikipedia, Google, and openpolitics.ca (run up by federal Green Party activist Michael Pilling) claiming he's suffered, 'an immense amount of frustration and emotional distress' over postings. Some 15 others may also have been targeted. "Mr. Crookes seems to be 'trying to unwrite history,' Pilling says. 'He was a central figure in the growth of the Green Party. His actions were highly controversial and if we have freedom of speech in this country, people should be allowed to talk about them.'" Newtley adds in a posting submitted 121 minutes later: "Literally 15 minutes after I posted [the foregoing], there was a knock on my door. It was a writ server telling me I, too, have been named in a lawsuit launched by Wayne Crookes..."
"Wikipedia, Google, and openpolitics.ca" plus "Some 15 others" hardly equals "The Internet."
Gee whiz, first we had the horrid realization that copyright law extends to things posted on-line (remember the days when people tried to argue that the Internet wasn't covered by copyright laws??), and now we're finding that laws related to libel, slander etc also extend to the digital realm.
Heaven help us. can't build anything that exists outside of the legal and cultural systems??
Three Squirrels
Howls of derisive laughter, Bruce. ... (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freeoms:
Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
Negative information does not mean untrue information. And I certainly would like to see how suppressing negative information which may very well be honest opinion is "a reasonable limit". Negative information is not hate speech. Negative information is not libel. Negative information is not obscenity.
In fact, a Canadian can not be convicted of hate speech, if the statement is true. Truth is an absolute defense.
Tell me, my friend, how is this story in error? Is this gentleman not suing the parties mentioned? Is he not seeking to remove information that is true, was true, or was honest belief at one point, from the internet?
There are laws in some countries designed to defend the common man against such tactics. These Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation are pernicious and vile, you must understand, and designed to pervert the justice system into the tool of the rich. They must be dealt with, with full force.
If people were to say absolutely anything they wanted without consequence, the S/N ratio of our communication mediums would be zero. Everything would be a lie and of absolutely no use to anyone. The common definition of anarchy "a state of lawlessness and disorder." If you're free to say anything you want [which also includes lying about contractual obligations, ingredients in food, testimony, etc] then you have no order nor lawfulness. That to me is anarchy.
Anyone who thinks that "libel" is a nancy-made-up law that infringes on free speech has not been on the receiving end of a kiddie-porn based joe-job attack. Wait until you receive crazy letters and death threats at 3 in the morning before you use your almighty wisdom to decide otherwise.
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
Hate to break it to you but the right to free speech is not absolute in the united states. Your country has similar hate speech, libel, and slander laws. And I don't see what you gain by allowing people to act uncivilized in the name of a constitution which is supposed to bring order, lawfulness, and harmony to it's people.
I don't feel more free knowing that spiteful little pricks can anonymous post joe-jobs and the publishers [websites] are too willfully complacent to do anything about it.
Like I said earlier, just wait until it's your name on 1000s of usenet posts spreading kiddie porn, anti-bush propaganda, re-posts, spam, and general annoyances. Then see how much you like the "well I'd rather be free than safe" attitude carries you.
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.