Censorship is bad even when it’s done by private companies

Re:Censorship is bad even when it’s done by private companies by NeedMoreTea on Wednesday November 06, 2019 @10:32AM (#21463491)

IANAL but as I understand it, the UK case at the moment is it might get me into trouble if they can pin me down, but not the discussion forum itself. There might be a legal request to reveal my identity, but purely to pin me down. As a publisher, the forum itself would be jointly and severally liable.

If Fred Smith writes a piece in The Times that libels me, I sue the newspaper, not Fred Smith.

FB and the other globals are subject to the laws of every place they operate. e.g. See all the US companies causing controversy changing their policies within China.

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Re:Censorship is bad even when it’s done by private companies by buboard on Wednesday November 06, 2019 @10:34AM (#21463515)

But what if (UK citizen) fred smith writes a piece in the new york times? I don't think you can sue the NYtimes, or that NYtimes will care - I bet they receive a ton of legal complaints from foreign countries every year most of which are readily dismissable by US law.

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Re:Censorship is bad even when it’s done by private companies by NeedMoreTea on Wednesday November 06, 2019 @10:40AM (#21463571)

Now I would need to consult a lawyer. I don't know US law on libel and defamation.

The fact that stories like CA and Snowden have been jointly published in the US, rather than say Canada or France makes me suspect that chances of a successful suit are low in the US. That's probably the point. :)

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