UK government’s plans to regulate the internet are a threat to free speech

Re:UK government’s plans to regulate the internet are a thre... by monkeynotes on Thursday September 17, 2020 @01:02PM (#24507114)

I don't think it's as simple as that. Since people are not literally screaming fire in a theatre who defines what is analogous? We used to be able to practice political descent freely. In times passed it was quite ok to have and share openly an opinion that medication is a scam (this is certainly not a new idea).

It is broadly understood it's not ok to incite violence, but much of what is being labelled as damaging speech is only labelled as such because of the broad platform it's being spoken from.

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Re:UK government’s plans to regulate the internet are a thre... by sgt101 on Friday September 18, 2020 @02:45AM (#24513667)

I agree - and this is the point of limited harms. If I set a fire in my neighbors house "for fun" I will go to prison for a long long time - because of the gigantic potential harm. If my bonfire burns my neighbors fence I am likely to face a shouting match and a bill. In a private forum a malicious lie is likely to create social opprobrium, on the internet it can precipitate the death of children.

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