From Germany: Return of the Stasi Police (Gatestone Institute):
Germany's new censorship law, which has introduced state censorship on social media platforms, came into effect on October 1, 2017. The new law requires social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to censor their users on behalf of the German state. Social media companies are obliged to delete or block any online "criminal offenses" such as libel, slander, defamation or incitement, within 24 hours of receipt of a user complaint -- regardless of whether the content is accurate or not. Social media companies are permitted seven days for more complicated cases. If they fail to do so, the German government can fine them up to 50 million euros for failing to comply with the law.Furthermore:
The new censorship law, however, was not fully enforced until January 1, 2018, in order to give the social media platforms time to prepare for their new role as the privatized thought police of the German state. Social media platforms now have the power to shape the form of current political and cultural discourse by deciding who will speak and what they will say.
On January 1, 2018, however, the law was immediately enforced. Twitter began by suspending the account of the deputy leader of the Alternative for Germany party (AfD), Beatrix von Storch, for 12 hours, after she tweeted the following in response to a New Year's greeting issued in Arabic by the Cologne Police:
"What the hell is happening in this country? Why is an official police site tweeting in Arabic? Do you think it is to appease the barbaric, gang-raping hordes of Muslim men?"
Von Storch also had her Facebook account suspended for repeating her tweet there. Facebook told her that her post contravened German law, as it constituted "incitement to hatred".Read the rest HERE.
It did not stop there. Cologne police filed charges against von Storch for "incitement to hatred", which is punishable under section 130 of the German Criminal Code.
As if truth-telling is the root of the problem with Muslims' criminal behavior!
So if a citizen reports out a suspicion regarding a Muslim (in good faith) and the facts do not support the concern, will the citizen be arrested for incitement?
ReplyDeleteThis is the crux of the matter regarding what could have happened in Irving, Texas when a teacher (see something, say something) reported out on a device which had a countdown activation, alarm, and wires sticking out of it.
In Germany, would the officials have arrested the teacher and not the student?
This is just wrong.
Sadly, though, the spewing of jihadi hatred and recruitment on social media platforms is the real cause of this new law. "They" have ruined it for "us".
By not allowing open discourse and merely monitoring the fringes, discourse will move underground where it will be more difficult to monitor all groups. I prefer the tree of liberty be allowed to flourish. Therein, lies societal health.