Free Press

(and Free Citizens)

Under

Attack

$53M Fines for Politically Incorrect Social Media Posts?

In a move designed to chill free speech, a German “justice” official has proposed fining social-media sites up to $53 million for not swiftly deleting “hateful” posts. 

Welcome to the new Germany, 

same as the old Germany.

The latest proposal is über-intrusive, too, requiring “companies to provide around-the-clock service for users to flag illegal content, which would have to be removed by the site within seven days. All copies of the content would also have to be deleted and social media companies would need to publish a quarterly report detailing how they have dealt with such material,” the AP also informs. 

Most chillingly, sites would be forced to “nominate” a person to field complaints; this individual could personally be fined in excess of $5 million if his employer doesn’t satisfy mandatory standards, according to the AP. What kind of masochist would want such a job remains to be seen, but one would imagine only the most handsome compensation could induce someone to assume such risk.

 What really drives these hate-speech laws is not hate of hate, but FEAR of Truth. 

As to this, note that one of the organizations in the German task force that analyzed online content is "Network Against Nazis.” It’s headed up by a woman who was an informant for the STASI — the secret police of the East German communist government. 

Yes, welcome to the new Germany — same as the old Germany. 

DYI