4 ms·

The vast majority of those arrested are just for mild insults, which are illegal under the censorious UK regime; not incitement to terrorism or threats.

by loeg 5mo ago

orwin 5mo ago
I'm pretty sure it's threat of violence. Sure, in some of the cases, the threats are mild ('i will fuck you up'), but they are often repeated, which, to be clear, should be considered harassment in any case (and the fact that it still isn't in other countries is wild. Someone keeps sending me insults, I should be able to legally retaliate to make him stop, no?)
- kypro 5mo ago
  Do you live in the UK? This isn't true. Here in the UK it is illegal to be grossly offensive online. Racism for example will have you charged under the Communications Act 2003.
  - Hikikomori 5mo ago
    Have the racists tried not being racists?
    - kypro 5mo ago
      [flagged]
kypro 5mo ago
Not UK but in Germany you can face criminal prosecution for insulting the chancellor, https://x.com/Pirat_Nation/status/2056692341399081235 https://x.com/Pirat_Nation/status/2056692341399081235 While here in the UK you can be arrested and charged for saying mean things about the royal family on private whatsapp groups, https://www.itv.com/news/london/2023-09-07/five-former-met-police-officers-plead-guilty-over-racist-whatsapps https://www.itv.com/news/london/2023-09-07/five-former-met-p...
- graemep 5mo ago
  The second one was for specifically racist messages - i.e. breaching hate speech laws - not just being mean. I am opposed to criminalising hate speech, BUT I think its important to be clear its not just "saying mean things".
  - kypro 5mo ago
    > The second one was for specifically racist messages - i.e. breaching hate speech laws - not just being mean. Can you provide a definition of "hate speech" which doesn't also apply to "mean words"? Are you suggesting racist words are a special category of mean words or something? If so why?
    - mghackerlady 5mo ago
      Hate speech is a subcategory of mean words that needs to be legally prevented for a just society where people are equal. Racist words are only hate speech if they are uttered and used in a discriminatory manner. Since whatever group is targeted by hate speech is the only group that can be harmed by the hate speech, they should be handled differently in the eyes of the law to ensure no one group is excessively discriminated against
      - kypro 5mo ago
        Do you feel the same about homophobia, height discrimination, fat discrimination and other discriminatory behaviours? Or do you feel these are different enough that they should be treated differently? I think I disagree with you on this, but I think what you've said is a perfectly valid opinion and appreciate your response. I'm sorry that it appears someone has downvoted you for disagreeing. This seems to be a new trend on HN and I wish people would stop doing it.
        graemep 5mo ago
        > Do you feel the same about homophobia, height discrimination, fat discrimination and other discriminatory behaviours? The first is covered by current UK law, the other are not. > I think I disagree with you on this, but I think what you've said is a perfectly valid opinion and appreciate your response. I'm sorry that it appears someone has downvoted you for disagreeing. This seems to be a new trend on HN and I wish people would stop doing it Agreed. I upvote a lot of things I disagree with to counter unfair downvotes (including GP).

The vast majority of those arrested are just for mild insults, which are illegal under the censorious UK regime; not incitement to terrorism or threats.

by loeg 5mo ago

The vast majority of those arrested are just for mild insults, which are illegal under the censorious UK regime; not incitement to terrorism or threats.

orwin 5mo ago

I'm pretty sure it's threat of violence. Sure, in some of the cases, the threats are mild ('i will fuck you up'), but they are often repeated, which, to be clear, should be considered harassment in any case (and the fact that it still isn't in other countries is wild. Someone keeps sending me insults, I should be able to legally retaliate to make him stop, no?)

kypro 5mo ago
Do you live in the UK? This isn't true. Here in the UK it is illegal to be grossly offensive online. Racism for example will have you charged under the Communications Act 2003.
- Hikikomori 5mo ago
  Have the racists tried not being racists?
  - kypro 5mo ago
    [flagged]

kypro 5mo ago

Not UK but in Germany you can face criminal prosecution for insulting the chancellor, https://x.com/Pirat_Nation/status/2056692341399081235 https://x.com/Pirat_Nation/status/2056692341399081235 While here in the UK you can be arrested and charged for saying mean things about the royal family on private whatsapp groups, https://www.itv.com/news/london/2023-09-07/five-former-met-police-officers-plead-guilty-over-racist-whatsapps https://www.itv.com/news/london/2023-09-07/five-former-met-p...

graemep 5mo ago
The second one was for specifically racist messages - i.e. breaching hate speech laws - not just being mean. I am opposed to criminalising hate speech, BUT I think its important to be clear its not just "saying mean things".
- kypro 5mo ago
  > The second one was for specifically racist messages - i.e. breaching hate speech laws - not just being mean. Can you provide a definition of "hate speech" which doesn't also apply to "mean words"? Are you suggesting racist words are a special category of mean words or something? If so why?
  - mghackerlady 5mo ago
    Hate speech is a subcategory of mean words that needs to be legally prevented for a just society where people are equal. Racist words are only hate speech if they are uttered and used in a discriminatory manner. Since whatever group is targeted by hate speech is the only group that can be harmed by the hate speech, they should be handled differently in the eyes of the law to ensure no one group is excessively discriminated against
    - kypro 5mo ago
      Do you feel the same about homophobia, height discrimination, fat discrimination and other discriminatory behaviours? Or do you feel these are different enough that they should be treated differently? I think I disagree with you on this, but I think what you've said is a perfectly valid opinion and appreciate your response. I'm sorry that it appears someone has downvoted you for disagreeing. This seems to be a new trend on HN and I wish people would stop doing it.
      - graemep 5mo ago
        > Do you feel the same about homophobia, height discrimination, fat discrimination and other discriminatory behaviours? The first is covered by current UK law, the other are not. > I think I disagree with you on this, but I think what you've said is a perfectly valid opinion and appreciate your response. I'm sorry that it appears someone has downvoted you for disagreeing. This seems to be a new trend on HN and I wish people would stop doing it Agreed. I upvote a lot of things I disagree with to counter unfair downvotes (including GP).