EU mulls legislation in the fight against online hate speech

My first reaction is to fervently defend freedom of speech and reject anything that might restrict it. However, I think the pendulum has swung so far against freedom of speech in recent years that a set of official and comprehensive guidelines could actually redraw the line much closer to where free speech advocates would like it to be. My cautious optimism is based on the assumption that guidelines created by a bureaucracy will probably take a much more legalistic view of what is unacceptable (such as threats or encitement to violence), instead of the Ben Affleck test of 'that's gross and racist'.

On many sites (including this one) there are some topics that have slowly become too hot to handle. Referring to certain beliefs and practices as superstitions or quoting Jean Jacques Rousseau seems to have become unacceptable. Hopefully, some authoritative legal guidelines could be used by everyone (including the tech companies) as a shield against the vocal minority who demands more and more censorship of the ideas they don't like. Of course, the danger is that the guidelines could push the pendulum even further in favor of censorship.

Of course, we need to recognize that "hate speech" and "incitement to violence" are not the same thing. "Hate speech" has become an umbrella term for speech that someone doesn't agree with and/or makes them uncomfortable. Even incitement needs to be both specific and credible to be censored IMHO. The best cure for any form of speech that you find uncomfortable is to drag it into the sunlight for all to see and mock.

"Hate speech" has become an umbrella term for speech that someone doesn't agree with and/or makes them uncomfortable.

Yeah, the right have a different name for speech they don't agree with and makes them uncomfortable. They call it 'fake news'.

Churchill's "The fascists of the future will be anti-fascists" quote is crystallized in today's EU self-hating cucks who invite their destruction every year with ever-increasing muslim immigration. Without a doubt, "hate speech" will come to include any opinion which does not demonize western culture, men and values which made them most successful and enlightened nation-states in world history..

Even liberal hero Bill Maher this week has called the current climate where conservative speakers are persona non grata on university campuses the "liberal version of book burning"

The only restriction on speech should be imminent threat to lawless action. Anything else is a form of censorship.

Is suicide considered lawless then? Because otherwise by this twisted logic suicide "encouregement" is a fine deed and if someone says it's messed up and should be banned "HE IS ATTACKING OUR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS", Mkay?

Is suicide considered lawless then? Because otherwise by this twisted logic suicide "encouregement" is a fine deed and if someone says it's messed up and should be banned "HE IS ATTACKING OUR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS", Mkay?

Yikes...

Laws that only protect acceptable speech may eventually be used to restrict speech critical of the government. I'm not willing to give the government the power of censorship, no matter how disgusting the content is, bar the caveat above.

To my thinking Hate speech is bullying. Hate speech is design to target a chareristics which will encourage negative emotion response. I can remember, when a person long hair was the target. Long hair on male would label you a No goods and useless to society, People like Bill Gates useless lol . These so call elite moralist protecting society from the useless elements. Ask them if they realise that they participated in bullying and discrimination, I wonder what they would say.

While private institutions are free to set the bar for what hate speech is after all Freedom of speech is that the goverment cant censor what you say and not places like facebook and the like.

While I am worried that any form of criticism will be considered hate speech that doesnt agree with the current political spiel wether they are left or right views they best way is to discredit them with facts and logic.