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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"?

#51
post #18
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... ?

It's one of the things the US does correctly, at least more so than most countries.

How many countries in the world would tolerate the WBC, for example?

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

#52

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).

If you want a particularly nauseating example of the latter phenomenon, look at the question Cameron was asked immediately after the "Islamic extremism" question...

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

#53
post #19
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Not sure that this is true. The Supreme Court in recent years has smacked down several regulations on free speech grounds in surprising ways. Campaign finance reform (aka "Citizens United") isn't a popular one on the left, but it's an example of deferring to the first amendment even when regulation has good intentions. Another case was the FDA regulation of off label marketing of prescription drugs. The crux was that…

The two cases you cite have big differences from the "extremest narrative" that prompted this submission and alone are not a good thermometer for how the court will rule regarding speech in general.

Both cases regarded speech that is already highly publicly tolerable. Sure people may moan regarding the level of rhetoric some in political ads, but it's ultimately just because they're lying. The FDA case is similar, objective facts known about drugs communicated between professionals in fields related to those drugs isn't distasteful to the public.

Both cases were about otherwise-legal speech that was restricted in a narrow business context. Citizens United overturned a finance rule, not Pacifica. Those ads could have been shown before Citizens United if they were funded differently. Doctors could already learn about off label use outside of a sales call.

The circumstances around the speech are important to the court. While I see no chance that regulations on religious hate speech would go over at all (especially not once the Christians realize it would apply to them too), the legal reasoning would probably not draw from either of those as precedent.

If the court actually were to issue surprising rulings on free speech, they would have found in FCC v Fox that Pacifica's "uniquely pervasive" rationale no longer held.

One wouldn't be too hard pressed to make the argument (although I won't) that those cases are examples of the court being business-friendly rather than broadly speech-friendly.

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

#54
post #48
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People are denied entry to the US because they've made a stupid tweet. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16810312 People are arrested for stupid youtube videos http://www.dailydot.com/news/cameron-dambrosio-boston-bomb-t... etc etc

Our constitution obviously only protects citizens... Not sure what your point is.

If that's true, does the Constitution permit non-citizens to be owned as slaves?

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

#55
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... ?

It's one of the things the US does correctly, at least more so than most countries. How many countries in the world would tolerate the WBC, for example?

What's the WBC?

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

#56
post #48
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People are denied entry to the US because they've made a stupid tweet. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16810312 People are arrested for stupid youtube videos http://www.dailydot.com/news/cameron-dambrosio-boston-bomb-t... etc etc

Our constitution obviously only protects citizens... Not sure what your point is.

The YouTube video was a citizen.

Can you point to the bit of the constitution that talks about citizens?

If you want some more examples there are all the people tased, shot, beaten, or arrested for filming police during traffic stops etc.

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

#57
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's one of the things the US does correctly, at least more so than most countries. How many countries in the world would tolerate the WBC, for example?

What's the WBC?

The Westboro Baptist Church.

It's a rather infamous church in Kansas (with a small membership - about 15 or so people, all related by marriage or direct heritage) whose members go about to various places across the country to protest "gayness" and other such things. They're most infamous for picketing at a homosexual soldier's funeral, among other things, carrying signs that say things like "GOD HATES FAGS" and telling people they're going to hell.

They've also apparently been barred by Canada and the UK from entry into their borders, and the more infamous Ku Klux Klan apparently also have a strong distaste for their behavior.

See also, for example, godhatesfags.com and godhatesamerica.com.

They're tolerated because the First Amendment explicitly permits their behavior, and they don't generally break laws. But they're almost universally reviled for their behavior and statements, and are considered a hate group by most rational people.

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

#58
post #12

And so it has begin, the great firewall of the UK

Except it hasn't. The title is making stuff up based on bluster during prime ministers questions that have as much to do with actual, real policy as claims made on the campaign trail.

Ever saw the interview that the minister made for censoring the web in UK?

You should watch it, it shows haw unknowledged some people are, to bad i didn't found it...

(ps. Searched for minister UK censorship)

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

#59
post #37
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... ?

> libel As sp332 said, you can say most anything as long as it is true. > bullying I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but... > calls to murder That would be considered "fighting words", which do not have first amendment protections.

> That would be considered "fighting words", which do not have first amendment protections.

That's not true. Calls to murder are protected under the first amendment (not always by unanimous decision) and typically they are nothing near fighting words.

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