The internet has changed the way we communicate, but it’s also made it harder to filter information. Now, people are sharing more of their thoughts and feelings than ever before—and this can have consequences. In many cases, people are being prosecuted for what they say on social media. That’s why there’s been so much discussion about this topic in recent years; it affects everyone who uses social media! Wanna buy Spotify plays at incredible prices? Try Spotifystorm.
The issue is being discussed in several countries
The issue is being discussed in several countries. In fact, it’s a global one now. That’s because social media has become a tool for people with different political views to express themselves freely, and that freedom is threatened by laws aimed at clamping down on hate speech or incitement to violence.
In Europe, where free speech has been protected by the European Convention on Human Rights since 1950, there are many examples of prosecution under new anti-hate speech legislation—including Germany where German courts have convicted far-right extremists who used Facebook and other platforms to encourage hatred against refugees (and others) as well as against Muslims (see here).
In Australia recently there were two separate cases where individuals were prosecuted for posting racist comments online; one resulted in conviction while the other case failed due to insufficient evidence.
Social media has made it harder to filter information
Social media has made it harder to filter information. People can post things they wouldn’t say in person, or on a phone. They also can say things they wouldn’t say in a public place or with their friends present.
Social media is great for sharing your thoughts, but you need to be careful about what you share online — especially if someone else might see the post and take offense at something you said.
It’s difficult to distinguish between satire, hyperbole, and real threats
It’s difficult to distinguish between satire, hyperbole and real threats on social media. This can lead to confusion and even violence as people who are not familiar with the context of a statement may interpret it as a serious threat.
It is also difficult for authorities to identify the author of a statement on social media, especially if they have no previous record of criminal activity or violent behavior. In addition, determining intent is often challenging due to lack of evidence linking an individual with their comment(s). Finally, because many users conceal their identity behind pseudonyms or similar aliases when posting comments online in order to avoid detection by law enforcement officials and private investigators (who often monitor accounts), determining whether an individual has posted content that constitutes a crime can be problematic.
Should individuals be prosecuted for their statements on social media?
It is being debated in several countries, including France where the issue was raised by President Emmanuel Macron. In his speech to the French National Assembly on July 26th, he said that “the Internet has become a place where everyone can say what they want without consequences” and called for more regulation of social media platforms.
The popularity explosion of social media platforms has made it increasingly hard to filter information that users post or comment on these sites. This makes it difficult for people to distinguish between satire or hyperbole and real threats—especially when they see those threats come from someone they know personally or sympathize with ideologically (such as an anti-Trump protester).
Conclusion
We are seeing a growing number of cases where people have been charged with hate speech and incitement. In many instances, these charges arise because of statements made on social media. We believe there are legal issues that need to be considered before criminalizing Internet users for their online activity.
