3 ms·

Where I live this what we got: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_in_Canada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_in_Canada Also see the U

by YZF 5y ago

Where I live this what we got: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_in_Canada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_in_Canada Also see the UK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_in_the_United_Kingdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_in_the_United... "Expressions of hatred toward someone on account of that person's colour, race, disability, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origin, religion, gender reassignment, or sexual orientation is forbidden.[1][2][3][4] Any communication which is threatening or abusive, and is intended to harass, alarm, or distress someone is forbidden.[5] The penalties for hate speech include fines, imprisonment, or both.[6]" There's plenty of laws where there is some ambiguity and the courts and juries need to interpret them. There are lots (most?) countries that do not have the same level of protection of free speech like the US has and it doesn't generally seem to "hurt society and individuals". If you compare the US to other modern democracies in the west it's not apparent that "free speech" with no limits is a win and there's no problem in those other countries in speaking out in general on any/many topics. You'll be stretched to find an example of hate laws abused as a way of restricting general freedoms.

ameminator 5y ago
Here is a recent example, from Canada - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lawyer-for-canadian-pastor-jailed-for-breaking-covid-rules-says-they-will-appeal-a-judges-shocking-final-ruling-limiting-his-free-speech/ https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lawyer-for-canadian-pastor... Or, more directly - the Mike Ward case, where a comedian was fined for telling a joke [0]. There are other examples from the Commonwealth countries. I am grateful that our current laws prevent things like ASBOs from the UK [1] from existing here. Further, by my reading, that "hate speech" law sounds very expansive. Just because the Canadian government isn't abusing that law the same way other countries are, doesn't mean it wouldn't be permitted under the letter of the law. The failure in "free speech" in the US isn't actually a failure in the law, but a failure in the marketplace, where unregulated tech / social monopolies have formed and there is no proper distributed platform that people use to interact. Otherwise, I actually think the free speech laws in the US would work - you don't counter misinformation with censorship, but with better information. This applies to "hateful" speech as well. [0] https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/mobile/comedian-mike-ward-seeks-permission-to-take-freedom-of-speech-case-to-the-supreme-court-1.4778825 https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/mobile/comedian-mike-ward-seeks-... [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-social_behaviour_order https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-social_behaviour_order

by YZF 5y ago

ameminator 5y ago

Here is a recent example, from Canada - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lawyer-for-canadian-pastor-jailed-for-breaking-covid-rules-says-they-will-appeal-a-judges-shocking-final-ruling-limiting-his-free-speech/ https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lawyer-for-canadian-pastor... Or, more directly - the Mike Ward case, where a comedian was fined for telling a joke [0]. There are other examples from the Commonwealth countries. I am grateful that our current laws prevent things like ASBOs from the UK [1] from existing here. Further, by my reading, that "hate speech" law sounds very expansive. Just because the Canadian government isn't abusing that law the same way other countries are, doesn't mean it wouldn't be permitted under the letter of the law. The failure in "free speech" in the US isn't actually a failure in the law, but a failure in the marketplace, where unregulated tech / social monopolies have formed and there is no proper distributed platform that people use to interact. Otherwise, I actually think the free speech laws in the US would work - you don't counter misinformation with censorship, but with better information. This applies to "hateful" speech as well. [0] https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/mobile/comedian-mike-ward-seeks-permission-to-take-freedom-of-speech-case-to-the-supreme-court-1.4778825 https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/mobile/comedian-mike-ward-seeks-... [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-social_behaviour_order https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-social_behaviour_order