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UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

publications.parliament.uk

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Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

#21

Post by oftenwrong »

gr3yh47 wrote: post #13
cstross wrote: post #3

Important note for readers from the US: while the UK has a legal right to free speech (via the Human Rights Act, which in turn is based on the EU Convention on Human Rights), it is diluted by opt-out provisions for public health and safety, and undermined by other laws: notably the Obscene Publications Act (1958) -- although enforcement of the OPA against works of written fiction has collapsed in the past two decades…

Barring a jarring alteration of the existing trajectory, the US will soon have just as watered down free speech rights.

I would say the US already has the same sorts of provisions in place. For example, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schenck_v._United_States .

Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

#22

Post by vidarh »

simias wrote: post #18
cstross wrote: post #3

Important note for readers from the US: while the UK has a legal right to free speech (via the Human Rights Act, which in turn is based on the EU Convention on Human Rights), it is diluted by opt-out provisions for public health and safety, and undermined by other laws: notably the Obscene Publications Act (1958) -- although enforcement of the OPA against works of written fiction has collapsed in the past two decades…

I wonder, how powerful is the 1st amendment in the US exactly? How does it deal with situations like libel, bullying, calls to murder etc... ?

Pretty much the same as in the UK. There are plenty of exceptions to first amendment protections in the US too.

UK libel law is ridiculous, though it has been reigned in somewhat, but other than that the protections are pretty similar.

Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

#23

Post by sp332 »

simias wrote: post #18
cstross wrote: post #3

Important note for readers from the US: while the UK has a legal right to free speech (via the Human Rights Act, which in turn is based on the EU Convention on Human Rights), it is diluted by opt-out provisions for public health and safety, and undermined by other laws: notably the Obscene Publications Act (1958) -- although enforcement of the OPA against works of written fiction has collapsed in the past two decades…

I wonder, how powerful is the 1st amendment in the US exactly? How does it deal with situations like libel, bullying, calls to murder etc... ?

I know for slander, in the USA you're allowed to say pretty much anything as long as it's true. The UK has much stricter laws against defamation. (In the US, the victim might sue for damages, but that's not the same as criminal charges.)

Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

#24

Post by Piskvorrr »

viraptor wrote: post #20
Piskvorrr wrote: post #6

...and the definition of "extremist" is defined by...? (And of course, it will eventually include "anyone opposed to the Great Firewall of Chi^H^H^H^H Britain, as its own continued existence becomes the main purpose of such tools)

This may provide some context: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2020382/You-entering... (apologies for linking to dailymail, I couldn't find a better article about it). With events like this you can understand where the ideas of blocking extremism come from.

Still doesn't make it a good idea. Worse, it's "let's become a police state to avoid becoming a (different kind of) police state"

Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

#25

Post by rollo_tommasi »

gr3yh47 wrote: post #13
cstross wrote: post #3

Important note for readers from the US: while the UK has a legal right to free speech (via the Human Rights Act, which in turn is based on the EU Convention on Human Rights), it is diluted by opt-out provisions for public health and safety, and undermined by other laws: notably the Obscene Publications Act (1958) -- although enforcement of the OPA against works of written fiction has collapsed in the past two decades…

Barring a jarring alteration of the existing trajectory, the US will soon have just as watered down free speech rights.

It's worth noting that in the United Kingdom, you can already be fined or jailed for tweeting. Neither of these would be criminally actionable offenses in the US, and the first one especially would be clearly protected political speech:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-19883828

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/mar/27/student-jailed-fab...

Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

#26

Post by chrisdevereux »

sp332 wrote: post #23
simias wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder, how powerful is the 1st amendment in the US exactly? How does it deal with situations like libel, bullying, calls to murder etc... ?

I know for slander, in the USA you're allowed to say pretty much anything as long as it's true. The UK has much stricter laws against defamation. (In the US, the victim might sue for damages, but that's not the same as criminal charges.)

The crime of defamatory libel (which I think is what you mean by criminal charges) was abolished in 2010[1]. AFAIK, UK libel is entirely civil law.

You're right that the UK has much stricter libel laws in general, though.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamatory_libel

Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

#27

Post by mogrim »

sp332 wrote: post #23
simias wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder, how powerful is the 1st amendment in the US exactly? How does it deal with situations like libel, bullying, calls to murder etc... ?

I know for slander, in the USA you're allowed to say pretty much anything as long as it's true. The UK has much stricter laws against defamation. (In the US, the victim might sue for damages, but that's not the same as criminal charges.)

Even in the UK the truth is a valid defense against a libel case. The main difference is that the burden of proof is put on the alleged libeller, who has to prove s/he hasn't committed libel, rather than on the person who has supposedly been libelled.

Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

#28

Post by dhimes »

simias wrote: post #18
cstross wrote: post #3

Important note for readers from the US: while the UK has a legal right to free speech (via the Human Rights Act, which in turn is based on the EU Convention on Human Rights), it is diluted by opt-out provisions for public health and safety, and undermined by other laws: notably the Obscene Publications Act (1958) -- although enforcement of the OPA against works of written fiction has collapsed in the past two decades…

I wonder, how powerful is the 1st amendment in the US exactly? How does it deal with situations like libel, bullying, calls to murder etc... ?

I have a feeling we're going to find out in the next few years. Let's hope the Supreme Court shows wisdom the voters don't seem to have and that the Justices don't wimp out with very narrow decisions.

Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

#29

Post by viraptor »

Piskvorrr wrote: post #24
viraptor wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This may provide some context: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2020382/You-entering... (apologies for linking to dailymail, I couldn't find a better article about it). With events like this you can understand where the ideas of blocking extremism come from.

Still doesn't make it a good idea. Worse, it's "let's become a police state to avoid becoming a (different kind of) police state"

Not saying it is a good idea - just wanted to provide a local context for extremism that a lot of people would likely appreciate having blocked.

Re: UK porn filter to also block "extremist narrative"?

#30

Post by tommorris »

akairobotto wrote: post #10

Cameron was answering in response to the following question > Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab) : Two weeks ago, the head of the Security Service warned about the extent of Islamist extremism. This week, two individuals have been charged with serious terrorist offences. What is the Prime Minister going to do in January when, as a result of his Government’s legislation, some of those whom the Home Secreta…

This. PMQs are basically a political dick-waving contest/circle jerk (depending on who is asking the question).
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