Life Sentence for Speech in Canada. It is for real.

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   Readmikenowposted 13 months ago

   Free speech advocates around the world railed against a new Canadian law that could demand a life sentence for adults who violate speech laws on social media.
   
   Introduced last month, the Online Harms Act, or Bill C-63, would empower judges to imprison adults for life if they post views supportive of genocide. The bill would increase the maximum penalty for advocating genocide from five years to life imprisonment and from two years to five years, on indictment, for the willful promotion of hatred.
   
   Advocates of the bill say it will make online platforms safer. However, critics called the law "totalitarian" and "Orwellian" for its crackdown on speech. The bill also allows a judge to impose house arrest and a fine if there are reasonable grounds to believe a defendant "will commit" an offense.
   
   George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley deemed the measure the latest step in a progression of already harmful laws against free speech in Canada.
   
   "The proposed changes constitute a doubling down on Canada’s commitment to reducing free speech for citizens despite criticism from many in the civil liberties community," he wrote in a new column.
   
   Justice Minister Arif Virani, who introduced the bill, argued that laws exist regulating the safety of toys kids play with but not the "screen that is in our children’s faces."
   
   As a father, he said he was "terrified of the dangers that lurk on the internet for our children."
   
   However, Turley argued the same reasons given to stifle speech in this bill could be expanded to apply in less extreme examples.
   
   https://www.foxnews.com/media/jonathan- … -end-there

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   Ken Burgessposted 13 months ago

   What is 'Western Civilization' based on if not Free Speech?
   
   Western Cvilization... Freedom, Liberty, Property Rights... the very core elements of what it means to be a 'Western Nation' and especially 'American' is under attack. 
   
   With intent and determination... not at all by mistake.

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      Readmikenowposted 13 months agoin reply to this

      Eliminating free speech is how dictators come to power.  It has happened more than once.
      
      “Control language and you control thought; control thought and you control action; control action and you control the world.”
      
      — Peter Kreeft

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         Ken Burgessposted 13 months agoin reply to this

         UK, Ireland, EU... now Canada...
         
         More Government means less Freedom, always.

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   Readmikenowposted 13 months ago

   The UK also has NO freedom of speech.  JK Rowling, easily one of the most successful authors of all time could face jail time for misgendering a person.
   
   This is insane.
   
   "JK Rowling claims she would ‘happily’ spend two years in prison for misgendering a trans person
   
   Harry Potter author was responding to a speculative report about a hypothetical new hate crime legislation under a Labour government
   
   JK Rowling has suggested that she would “happily” spend two years in prison for misgendering a transgender person.
   
   The Harry Potter author, 58, is known for her outspoken and repeated criticisms of trans rights.
   
   She made the comment in response to a report in the Mail on Sunday suggesting that hypothetical law changes under a Labour governnment could result in gender-related “aggravated offences” carrying sentences of up to two years. The report claimed that misgendering – to address or refer to someone by the wrong gender – could be classified as an “aggravated offence” under future legislation.
   
   Sharing the report on X/Twitter, Rowling commented: “I’ll happily do two years if the alternative is compelled speech and forced denial of the reality and importance of sex.”
   
   While Rowling claimed she would “happily” spend time in prison for the hypothetical crime, she also suggested she would fight the charge in court, writing: “Bring on the court case, I say. It’ll be more fun than I’ve ever had on a red carpet.”
   
   https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ente … 32406.html

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      Stephen Tomkinsonposted 13 months agoin reply to this

      Well, yes, but a little misleading as there is no way that Ms Rowling will go to jail for this.

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         Readmikenowposted 13 months agoin reply to this

         Do you think she would be headed to jail if she weren't a billionaire?

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   Readmikenowposted 13 months ago

   Crushing free speech continues in the UK
   
   Retired British woman on trial for holding sign offering to talk to women considering abortion
   Livia Tossici-Bolt charged for holding sign offering counsel to women seeking abortions
   
   A woman in England is facing trial for offering help to women seeking an abortion in a censorial "buffer zone" which criminalizes "expressions of approval or disapproval of abortion". 
   
   Livia Tossici-Bolt held a sign that read "here to talk, if you want" near an abortion facility in Bournemouth, England, which prompted several individuals to approach her to discuss issues they were facing in their lives, according to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) UK.
   
   But, local authorities confronted Tossici-Bolt, alleging she had breached a local abortion "buffer zone" and issued a Fixed Penalty Notice, which Tossici-Bolt refused to pay, on the grounds that she did not breach the terms of the public spaces protection order (PSPO).
   
   
   She also believes she has the right, as argued by her legal counsel at ADF UK, under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act to have consensual conversations. The Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) Council proceeded to charge Tossici-Bolt for breaching the "buffer zone" and she now awaits a trial date at Poole Magistates’ Court.
   
   Tossici-Bolt said everyone condemns harassment, but called out "buffer zones" for going so far as to criminalize peaceful and helpful activities.
   
   "For several years now, I have been offering a helping hand to women who would like to consider other options to abortion, and pointing them to options where they can receive financial and practical support, if that’s what they would like," she said. "There’s nothing wrong with offering help. There’s nothing wrong with two adults engaging in a consensual conversation on the street. I shouldn’t be treated like a criminal just for this."
   
   https://www.foxnews.com/media/retired-b … g-abortion

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