Scotland's anti-free speech law has passed, making it one of the West's most oppressive countries for speech

Editor's note: The internet was created for the military so good luck with "free speech" on any internet platform. The military contracts out to private cybersecurity firms so if you think you are fighting for "free speech" your website could be disabled or compromised at any time. 

Congressional Testimony: The Leading Activists for Online Censorship Are Corporate Journalists

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Source: Reclaim the Net

By Didi Rankovic | March 12, 2021

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Scotland's highly controversial Hate Crime and Public Order Bill has passed with 82 votes in favor, 32 against, and four abstained.

The bill, that has been hotly contested by freedom of speech advocates, builds on the already existing legislation criminalizing what's termed as "stirring up" hatred against people based on race. But this time, Scotland has made it a crime to "stir up hatred against protected groups."

Reports say that few laws adopted by the Scottish Parliament in the 20 years of its existence have been more disputed. According to them, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf from the ruling SNP, who tabled the bill, had to make several concessions and introduce changes to the original draft in order to try to reassure those who think freedom of speech is now in serious jeopardy in Scotland.

The bill's broad and ambiguous definitions state that "intent" must be established to stir up hatred against protected groups, and it must pass "a reasonable person's test before an offense has been committed."

Background on the law:

Rights groups push back against Scotland's proposed hate speech law

In Scotland, saying that sex is binary could soon be a crime

Scotland's hate speech law is vague and dangerous for free speech, expert says

Free speech exception to Scottish hate crime bill withdrawn after backlash from SNP members

Authors, comedians, and actors push back against Scotland's authoritarian Hate Speech bill

Yousaf's amendment said that criticizing or discussing "protected characteristics" would not in itself be considered a hate crime, as threats and abuse, while Justice Committee Convener Adam Tomkins, from opposition Conservatives, also contributed with an amendment that sought to incorporate the spirit of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Right, so the new bill now allows Scots to "offend, shock or disturb" without being punished.

Please go to Reclaim the Net to read more. 

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It's not much better in Ireland either:

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Think you are "free" to go out onto the streets to protest because you feel injustice or are demonstrating your right to publicly gather?

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We aren't too sure about what is going on here but this is not looking too well either in the US as the DoJ goes after people involved in protests at the capitol on January 6, 2021 in what is being described as the "largest investigation and prosecutions in US history." This indicates political dissenters are now being targeted and rounded up for investigation and prosecution? If prosecuted then what?

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More censorship and it is only going to intensify under Biden:

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And in Russia? The country is "free and open."  Completely opposite of what is happening in the US and other "western" countries. 48% of Russians never wore a Covid muzzle compared to the corporate Bolshevik regimes running western countries.

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