Free speech and Thought online

Rosenante BrunacheSection 011

Success of the internet and Hate Groups

The Internet has led to mass communication.

People are able to talk to people freely and anonymously, thus getting rid of inhabitations.

People can now spread ideas quickly and all over the world.

Hate groupsPrior to the internet, it took a lot of money

and resources to recruit new members. People were also discouraged from joining

hate groups out of shame. “The Web has become the online forum of

choice for hate groups precisely because it allows them to avoid interacting with those who disagree with their views.”

- media awareness network

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=886

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1000Hate groups

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number of hate groups

The rise in hate groups

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, One reason for the rise in hate groups is the

debate over illegal immigrants….

Combating Hate onlineIn 2001, the Council of Europe passed

legislation to criminalize hate speech on the internet.

The problems are that there are no consistent laws on hate group websites around the world.

The U.S. constitution protects hate speech and groups with the first amendment.

What is acceptableIn some countries European countries,

denying the holocaust can lead to jail. This however would not happen in the United States due to our lax hate speech laws.

Who is a hate group or what is hate speech can sometimes be murky.

Are these laws even necessary ??

Most countries already have laws that prohibit intimidation, assault, and damage to property.

These laws have little to do with protecting people from physical harm, but from being offended.

Blocking the ideas of others, no matter how abhorrent, will not promote tolerance and understanding.

Sources http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/02/06/findl

aw.analysis.ramasastry.cyberlaw/index.html

http://www.adl.org/main_internet/internet_hate_law.htm

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=886

The End !!!