YouTube Refuses To Remove Terrorist Videos

hhavensteincw writes "YouTube has declined a request from Sen. Joe Lieberman remove videos from terrorist organizations. Lieberman said that the videos made by groups like Al-Qaeda show assassinations, attacks on US soldiers leading to injuries and death, and weapons training, 'incendiary' speeches, and other material intended to 'encourage violence against the West.' YouTube said that while it removed some of the videos highlighted by the Senator, most were allowed to stay because they did not violate YouTube's community guidelines. YouTube went on to note that they are strong supporters of free speech."

Comments

I'm sorry...

[Quiet_Desperation]

...but when did assassinations become free speech? Did I miss a memo?

Can I kill my annoying neighbors now and claim free speech protection? I need a ruling here.

Re:political stunt

[shanen]

I concur with the "political stunt" assessment. Lieberman knows his residual relevance is highly limited. The Democrats are being polite to him based on his seniority, but mostly because it's politically convenient to have parliamentary control over the Senate. If one there was one more Republican senator, many people believe Lieberman would become an official Republican the next day--and he would expect to be suitably rewarded for giving them the majority.

As it stands, after this coming election Lieberman will be persona non grata and politically irrelevant to everyone. Kind of a shame. From the party's V-P nominee to nothing, and it isn't even his fault. At this point I personally dismiss him as a crazed and unprincipled egotist of the worst stripe, but in 2000 I think he would have done a good job--under the rational control of Al Gore. As V-P, Lieberman could have gone to Israel and really pushed for a reasonable peace settlement without anyone accusing him of being an anti-Semite. Instead, look at the incredible mess...