Incitement to violence should never be tolerated, but “hate speech” is an inherently subjective concept that can only be defined in accord with the principles and priorities of the person charged with the responsibility of defining it. In practice, “hate speech” laws are used to silence speech that those in power want silenced. The consistent practice of Islamic and Leftist groups of labeling as “hate speech” all honest discussion of how Islamic jihadis use the texts and teachings of Islam to justify violence and supremacism means that if “hate speech” laws are enacted, such discussion will be criminalized. In that event, Islamic jihadis will be able to operate unopposed, for to say anything against them will be “hate speech.”
“Europol takes Europe-wide action against online hate speech,” by Alan Hope, Brussels Times, November 8, 2020 (thanks to Henry):
The European Union’s law enforcement agency Europol this week coordinated an operation aimed at cracking down on racist and xenophobic messages online.
The action was led by the German Bundeskriminalamt, the federal criminal police, and also involved police in Czechia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The operation was coordinated by Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC).
The ECTC was created in 2016, and is described as “an operations centre and hub of expertise that reflects the growing need for the EU to strengthen its response to terror”. It now has more than 80 staff members as well as 14 experts seconded from member states….
On the day of the operation, law enforcement in the nine countries raided 97 premises, including 81 homes in Germany alone. They detained a number if individuals for questioning in relation to the dissemination of racist and xenophobic hate speech, calls to violence and incitement to commit offences.
“The coordinated action targeted communities and individuals spreading hate via the internet using different types of content such as posts, comments, and memes that spread hate and propaganda,” Europol said in a statement.
“Law enforcement also worked together to increase the awareness of individuals and groups that the World Wide Web is not a legal vacuum. Supposed anonymity does not hinder law enforcement from taking measures against unlawful acts. This first joint action day on hate crimes sends a clear signal to individuals spreading violent hatred on the internet that their actions will be detected.”…