Asking Citizens What They Want Out Of Copyright Law Is Really Just A 'Tactic To Confuse'?

UK ISPs Get Tiny Safe Harbor For Hate Speech... Why Not Full Safe Harbors?

from the step-it-up dept

Mon, Jan 18th 2010 8:01pm — Mike Masnick

We've spent plenty of time discussing the importance of Section 230 in properly applying liability, and avoiding situations where angry individuals or organizations sue a third party service provider because they have deeper pockets and are easier to sue. However, most countries don't have similar safe harbors (or, if they do, they tend to be much more limited). This is really unfortunate and can lead to significant chilling effects. Over in the UK, it looks like they've just updated e-commerce regulations to carve out a safe harbor for ISPs... but only related to hate speech. But it makes me wonder why carve out a special exemption for hate speech, and why not set up full safe harbors that say a service provider should not be blamed for the actions of a user?

Filed Under: hate speech, safe harbors, uk

6 Comments

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im a sue you, 18 Jan 2010 @ 8:32pm

look out road builders
you aid and abet all kinds a crime

thefts
drunk driving
drug smuggling
murders
rapes
child porn and kidnappings

WE SHOULD SUE MAKERS OF ROADS BIG TIME LOOK WHAT WE COULD STOP
THINK OF THE CHILDREN
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- Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2010 @ 8:38pm
  
  Re: look out road builders
  Aha, but copyright infringement is terrorism, don't forget!
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  - ethorad (profile), 19 Jan 2010 @ 4:41am
    
    Re: Re: look out road builders
    "Aha, but copyright theft is terrorism, don't forget!"
    
    Fixed that for you :)
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im a sue you, 18 Jan 2010 @ 8:43pm

look out road builders (part 2)
oh we cna gt them easy neough cause without roads they cant go get hard drives or technology at all

HAHA yes sue road builders now they support terrorism
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Dave, 19 Jan 2010 @ 6:29am

They most probably haven't gone all the way with this because our government currently wants ISPs to punish users (or at least send them a letter) for piracy etc. If ISPs cannot be held accountable under law for users actions then they have no obligation to do anything.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Jan 2010 @ 11:57am

So it's fine to have your users spew racial slurs, but if they mention factual government corruption, the ISP is still liable for libel?
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