A Robust Free-Speech Coalition Takes On New York’s “Anti-Hate” Censorship Law
Jose Nino
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The Electronic Frontier Foundation recently urged the Second Circuit to uphold the injunction against New York’s polemical online “Hateful Conduct” law, claiming that it poses a potential threat to free speech on digital platforms. The EFF’s challenge to the bill is indicative of most political battles of this epoch that are largely centered on political discourse in the digital realm.
The Internet has facilitated an unprecedented amount of discourse worldwide, which has obviously frightened many political actors who were more accustomed to the days of legacy media, where information could be more easily controlled and stressed.
The legislation in this case is designed at holding tech companies accountable for content that is considered “hateful.” Naturally, the introduction of this law has brought about fear that it could eventually be used as a tool for censorship further down the line.
In this instance, the EFF has teamed up with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), to protect public discourse, calling on the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to overturn a previous ruling that allowed for the censorship of public comments, which established a troubling precedent for free speech.
At this juncture in American history, the country is moving in a post-Constitutional direction where basic freedoms face existential threats. The time for complacency is over. Freedom advocates have to be ready to team up with unconventional partners in order to preserve liberties.
That’s the reality of our chaotic political epoch. No man is an island. The more alliances that are forged against the tyrants, the better off we will be in terms of the preservation of our freedoms.
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