I speak with James Turk (@jameslturk), Director of the Centre for Free Expression at Ryerson University, in Podcast for Inquiry's sixth episode. James and I discuss the importance of free expression in a democratic society, the futility and counterproductive nature of censorship, and what limits on expression are reasonable and justified. We also talk about the “marketplace of ideas” and how it informs free expression, and the surprising connection between monopolies and the stifling of speech.
Listen to our conversation here:
A video recording is also available:
Let's start by enforcing existing laws against criminal harassment and death/rape threats and see what happens. I call BS on the assertion that nothing can be done to protect women online, given that a tweet threatening a STATUE of Ted Rogers prompted (pun intended) an effectively immediate visit from police. Time to revisit who/what matters and who/what doesn't!
ReplyDeletehttps://toronto.citynews.ca/2016/03/14/police-question-kitchener-man-after-alleged-threat-toward-ted-rogers-statue/
I agree that the first step to addressing the endemic online threats and harassment people (especially women and visible minorities) face is to enforce existing laws. Charge and prosecute where warranted; if even a few people are convicted and face genuine consequences for (e.g.) threatening to rape someone, I believe the deterrent effect would be significant.
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