←back to thread

The thing about Europe: it's the actual land of the free now

(www.economist.com)
160 points cruzcampo | 3 comments | 11 Apr 25 08:04 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
Show context
snehk ◴[11 Apr 25 08:42 UTC] No.43651672[source]▶
> Yet to many Europeans the idea that free expression is under threat seems odd. Europeans can say almost anything they want, both in theory and in practice.

A journalist in Germany was just sentenced to seven months for posting a meme of a politician where she holds up a sign saying "I hate free speech".

https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/nancy-faeser-afd-...

replies(14): >>43651681 #>>43651723 #>>43651744 #>>43651745 #>>43651760 #>>43651765 #>>43651767 #>>43651769 #>>43651825 #>>43651851 #>>43651872 #>>43652301 #>>43652854 #>>43654946 #
croes ◴[11 Apr 25 08:59 UTC] No.43651825[source]▶
He didn't post a meme, he posted a altered picture which made it look like the politician really said that.

That's called defamation.

Just because he later claimed it's satire doesn't make it satire.

replies(3): >>43651963 #>>43654362 #>>43655333 #
1. EasyMark ◴[11 Apr 25 14:42 UTC] No.43654362[source]▶
It should still be a civil case.
replies(1): >>43655512 #
2. ffsm8 ◴[11 Apr 25 16:16 UTC] No.43655512[source]▶
I think the discussion originates from the fact that if you compare today's Europe to the USA of 20 yrs ago, today's Europe has less free speech.

Things is though, the same would apply to today's Europe vs Europe of 20 yrs ago - and the same if you compared Europe of 20 yrs (more) vs USA of today (less).

Both Europe and USA has lost a lot of their free speech privileges, both via social norms and actual regulations/application of law.

Now, wherever Europe or USA currently comes out on top os - in my person opinion besides the point: its bad either way.

replies(1): >>43656440 #
3. EasyMark ◴[11 Apr 25 17:46 UTC] No.43656440[source]▶
I agree. But free speech is ending in the USA as well, Trump wants to jail his critics, especially journalists, and thinks it's treason.