[IP] Which is the bigger threat?
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Which is the bigger threat?
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2006 01:41:22 -0500
From: Gene Spafford <spaf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Dave Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
So here is a question for IP readers.
Which is the bigger threat? Google's acceding to the Chinese
government on censorship, or Islamic rioting and threats over
publication of cartoons depicting Mohammed? Both are issues of
freedom of speech/information dissemination. Both represent the
clash over a very fundamental issue of culture.
We've seen it before, usually on a smaller scale. Hate speech
prohibitions, prohibitions against Nazi symbols in Germany, laws
against publication of details during criminal trials in Canada,
publication of research on bioweapons, restrictions on child
pornography..... We even see some of it in the debate over whether
the NY Times publishing the story of the President's wiretapping
orders were justified or "treason."
What is "right" is very specific to each culture/country, and
sometimes to a political party or ethnic group. How do we all reach
common ground to say when it is appropriate to restrict dissemination
of information -- if it ever is?
Note, I'm not asking about the "right to free speech" which is
actually a legal right, but only in some places. I am asking about
"right" in the ethical sense, as in it is the right thing to do, and
to do otherwise is not right.
-------------------------------------
You are subscribed as roessler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To manage your subscription, go to
http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip
Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/