Online hatred and the Human Rights act
p2pnet news view Politics | Freedom:- “It’s kind of like microwaving popcorn, you know?” - the National Post has Jennifer Lynch, chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC), saying yesterday.
“For the first while on the Internet, there was this little pop, pop, pop,” she went on. “And now, the popcorn is in full popping formation. It`s just omnipresent, 24/7, popping up here, popping up there, and so it seems to make it difficult for measured voices to respond.”
Under discussion, believe it or not, was freedom of speech, and the story was reporting on a new paper delivered by by professor Richard Moon (right) who teaches private and public law at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada.
Among other things, he believes ISPs should create hate speech complaint hotlines and advisory boards.
He also thinks Section 13, the hate-speech provision in the Canadian Human Rights Act, “should be repealed so that online hate speech is a purely criminal matter”.
In the Toronto Sun, Peter Worthington points out, “Briefly, and purged of redundant words, Section 13(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act reads: ‘It is a discriminatory practice for a person or a group of persons acting in concert to communicate … any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt …’ That’s it, he says. “That’s the section that can be used to halt or intimidate free opinion — and not just opinion that incites violence.”
Vancouver Island Liberal MP Keith Martin has introduced two private member’s bills — one to repeal Section 13, the other to investigate the CHRC’s conduct, says the story, going on:
“One hopes every publication in Canada picks up the theme and harps on it until government undoes the damage done by this unnecessary legislation. Most newspapers have already opposed the abuse of hate legislation, but now that the CHRC’s commissioned report urges the same thing, there is ample reason to follow up and ensure that Moon’s gritty recommendations are not ignored or diluted.”
But, “We either go the American route and do away with all anti-hate laws or keep them, ideally in the non-criminal arena, but apply them equally to all,” says in the Toronto Star, adding:
“More immediately, all the key players need to rise above their self-serving agendas and pursue the common good, which is often best advanced through self-restraint rather than under the hammer of the law.”
Stay tuned.
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National Post - Drop hate from rights act, study urges, November 25, 2008
freedom of speech – Free speech and hate speech online: report, November 26, 2008
Globe and Mail – Does Macleans support free speech?, November 26, 2008
Toronto Star – , November 26, 2008
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