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[IP] Anti-Defamation League criticized for efforts to "curb" online speech it doesn't like [fs]





Begin forwarded message:

From: Declan McCullagh <declan@xxxxxxxx>
Date: September 26, 2005 11:27:06 AM EDT
To: politech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Politech] Anti-Defamation League criticized for efforts to "curb" online speech it doesn't like [fs]



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: ADL Welcomes House Vote In Support of Federal Hate Crimes Legislation
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 07:16:30 -0700
From: Richard Smith <richard2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: declan@xxxxxxxx

"Hate crime" means thought crime. Why a special protection for groups against 'hate' when individuals are already protected by traditional laws ? If I burn down a synagogue instead of a church I should spend more time in jail ? The ADL is also trying to destroy freedom of speech on the internet (link in my next e-mail)


http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HatCr_51/7493_51.htm

ADL Welcomes House Vote In Support of Federal Hate Crimes Legislation

New York, NY, September 14, 2005 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed the vote in the U.S. House of Representatives today in support of legislation to expand federal hate crimes laws. The measure, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act, was approved, 223-199, as an amendment to the Children's Safety Act of 2005.

"This important action by the House of Representatives continues the history of bipartisan, majority support for enactment of this necessary legislation," said Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "This is the third time since 2000 that the House of Representatives has voted in support of these provisions. We will work hard to ensure that these provisions are enacted into law this time."

In the last session of Congress, bipartisan majorities in both the Senate and the House voted to approve this important measure. On June 15, 2004, the Senate approved the measure as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (S. 2400) by a vote of 65-33. The House voted 213-186 to urge its members working to reconcile differing versions of that legislation to retain the hate crime provisions. Unfortunately, the hate crime provisions were stripped from the final version of the legislation.

"We will continue to help lead a coalition of law enforcement, civic, religious, and civil rights groups designed to assist federal and state authorities work more closely together in combating hate," said Ms. Balser and Mr. Foxman.

Forty five states and the District of Columbia have passed hate crime statutes, many based on model legislation drafted by ADL. The League has been a pioneer in drafting and promoting tougher hate crimes laws across the country.





-------- Original Message --------
Subject: (ADL again) U.S. House Briefed on International Cooperation on Internet Hate
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 07:32:24 -0700
From: Richard Smith <richard2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: declan@xxxxxxxx

without the First Amendment that the ADL wants to destroy there would be no freedom of speech not only for americans but for the whole world. If some stupid "anti-hate" law in a non-US country forbids a company from hosting a website it's eventually going to be hosted by a american company


http://adl.org/PresRele/Internet_75/4790_75.htm

Washington, DC, September 9, 2005 .... Continuing to further efforts on international cooperation regarding online hate stemming from the OSCE Conference on Hate on the Internet in Paris in June 2004, ADL experts addressed a packed room on Capitol Hill to discuss how governments, industry and advocates could partner to curb online hate. The session was sponsored by the Congressional Task Force Against Anti-Semitism and co-hosted by ADL and the French Embassy.

The meeting began with remarks from Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Ambassador Jean David Levitte of France and Ambassador Samuel Zbogar of Slovenia discussed the ongoing efforts by France and OSCE nations to combat Internet hate and foster international cooperation. Slovenia currently chairs the OSCE.

Panelists included Christopher Wolf, Chair of ADL's Internet Task Force and Partner, Proskauer Rose, who spoke about the complex legal issues surrounding bigotry online; Markham Erickson, General Counsel for NetCoalition, who discussed the Internet industry's responses and continued commitment to enforcing their already-existing usage policies for users regarding online hatred; and Brian Marcus, ADL Director of Internet Monitoring gave a multi-media presentation that highlighted many examples of hate materials from around the world.

"We all know and appreciate that the Internet has transformed the ways in which we communicate, educate, inform and entertain. But there is a dark side to the Internet," Mr. Wolf testified. "Terrorists, anti-Semites, racists, homophobes and other haters have logged on and are online. ... Unfortunately, the Internet has become the new frontier in spreading hate."

Mr. Wolf offered recommendations for coordinating an international response to online hate, including:

* Better international cooperation and coordination of monitoring the use of the Internet for hateful and terroristic purposes. * Studies on the ways in which vulnerable people, especially children, become exposed to hate sites and content, and the ways in which such content affects that audience.
    * An examination of the link between hate speech and hate crimes.
* Annual reports should be prepared on the "State of Hate on the Internet" setting forth trends and describing where there has been progress in fighting such hate.

Panelists discussed the ongoing efforts to coordinate the fight against online hate, and agreed that government, industry and nongovernmental organizations need to work together – even in vastly different frameworks. International differences can be bridged, and all players can agree on a common set of principals regarding hate online that respect the differences, but still seek to expose hate, get industry to act on sites that violate their terms of service and to educate parents, educators and kids about what to do when they encounter hate online.


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