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“Just don’t share opinions” is not an option for a free society. Being gagged for fear of retribution from a foreign government is not beneficial to my mental h

“Just don’t share opinions” is not an option for a free society. Being gagged for fear of retribution from a foreign government is not beneficial to my mental health.

root_axis 1y ago
Obviously not, but locking down your phone is just not practical for most people. Of course, avoiding travel to the u.s. is the safest approach, but it's not that simple for many of us who have spouses, siblings, parents etc who were not born in the u.s.
aeternum 1y ago
Then don't travel, in many countries the penalty for disparaging the leader of that country is quite severe.
- standeven 1y ago
  It’s sad that the USA is becoming one of these countries. But yes, that’s what I’m doing - travelling to free countries and avoiding the backwards ones.
  - aeternum 1y ago
    IMO the USA is not becoming one of those countries and people are just fearmongering. But legally they can do it so it's better to take precautions anyway.
    - root_axis 1y ago
      Why do you say it's fearmongering? There have already been several examples of it in recent months. Here's one example: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/trump-musk-french-scientist-detained https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/trump-musk-f...
      - aeternum 1y ago
        DHS claims he admitted to having confidential info from Los Alamos that violated an NDA https://x.com/TriciaOhio/status/1902881013220385220 https://x.com/TriciaOhio/status/1902881013220385220 It also sounds like the guy was actively and openly trying to convince researchers to leave the US for France. May have even been the purpose of the trip. Free speech is one thing, extending a visa to foreign individuals that are actively working against the country's interests is another. Few if any countries would grant visas knowing that intent.
        root_axis 1y ago
        I looked online to verify the claims stated therein and couldn't. Do you have any sources beyond a random tweet?

“Just don’t share opinions” is not an option for a free society. Being gagged for fear of retribution from a foreign government is not beneficial to my mental health.

root_axis 1y ago

Obviously not, but locking down your phone is just not practical for most people. Of course, avoiding travel to the u.s. is the safest approach, but it's not that simple for many of us who have spouses, siblings, parents etc who were not born in the u.s.

aeternum 1y ago

Then don't travel, in many countries the penalty for disparaging the leader of that country is quite severe.

standeven 1y ago
It’s sad that the USA is becoming one of these countries. But yes, that’s what I’m doing - travelling to free countries and avoiding the backwards ones.
- aeternum 1y ago
  IMO the USA is not becoming one of those countries and people are just fearmongering. But legally they can do it so it's better to take precautions anyway.
  - root_axis 1y ago
    Why do you say it's fearmongering? There have already been several examples of it in recent months. Here's one example: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/trump-musk-french-scientist-detained https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/trump-musk-f...
    - aeternum 1y ago
      DHS claims he admitted to having confidential info from Los Alamos that violated an NDA https://x.com/TriciaOhio/status/1902881013220385220 https://x.com/TriciaOhio/status/1902881013220385220 It also sounds like the guy was actively and openly trying to convince researchers to leave the US for France. May have even been the purpose of the trip. Free speech is one thing, extending a visa to foreign individuals that are actively working against the country's interests is another. Few if any countries would grant visas knowing that intent.
      - root_axis 1y ago
        I looked online to verify the claims stated therein and couldn't. Do you have any sources beyond a random tweet?