Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by boutad 2340 days ago
> Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech

1 comments

Read just a little further.

> the exercise of these rights carries "special duties and responsibilities" and may "therefore be subject to certain restrictions" when necessary "[f]or respect of the rights or reputation of others" or "[f]or the protection of national security or of public order (order public), or of public health or morals".

> Freedom of speech and expression, therefore, may not be recognized as being absolute, and common limitations or boundaries to freedom of speech relate to libel, slander, obscenity, pornography, sedition, incitement, fighting words, classified information, copyright violation, trade secrets, food labeling, non-disclosure agreements, the right to privacy, dignity, the right to be forgotten, public security, and perjury.

The real world is messy and rights can't be absolute because each could encroach on others. We try to find the right equilibrium.

> reputation of others

This sounds like slander or libel. It also seems that is what is being done to Molyneux, not by him.

> protection of national security or of public order (order public)

This sounds like making threats. Is Molyneux making threats against people or calling for actual violence?

> of public health or morals

Blasphemy or obscenity laws? I thought that we were past these things in the west.

> The real world is messy and rights can't be absolute because each could encroach on others.

Is Molyneux infringing on the rights of other or are others trying to infringe the rights of Molyneux?

It wouldn't be very hard to argue scientific racisms very purpose is to encroach on the rights of other races. By painting them as lesser and dehumanizing them.
Considering he is an anarchist, I don't think he is trying to encroach on the rights of anyone.
All of what you say is true. And I believe that social media platforms deplatforming people according to arbitrary judgements or public pressure is unacceptable in a free society. It deviates from the "right equilibrium".