Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

> Is the US the only place on the planet that actually has free speech?

Yes, USA is indeed the only country on the planet with absolute free speech. Most residents of other places doesn't actually want what the USA has.




>Yes, USA is indeed the only country on the planet with absolute free speech. Most residents of other places doesn't actually want what the USA has.

The US does not have absolute free speech. Laws exist against slander, libel, perjury and making terroristic threats. The FDA regulates the speech of food producers and pharmaceutical companies. The FCC regulates speech on broadcast television and radio. It's a felony to lie to Congress. It's a felony to call for the assassination of the President.

Even speech in "public squares" is regulated by public nuisance and noise laws and curfews.

Yes, what's considered "hate speech" elsewhere is (mostly) legal in the US. But that doesn't make free speech in the US absolute, just more amenable to forms of racism and bigotry the rest of the world decided weren't worth defending after the consequences of World War 2.


Is that actually true or what their governments tell them that they want?


That is actually true.

Free speech should not be an absolute. No freedom in a society is absolute. Living in a society is a huge compromise.

EDIT: I am not in favor of the Chat Control proposal by the way. It is poorly thought out and will only serve to harm innocent people. True criminals will use encryption and such anyway.


I don't want far-right neonazis freely inciting people to violence towards immigrants, no.


Most residents of the USA want restrictions on free speech too. And they have it.


Most residents of other places doesn't actually want what the USA has.

How do you know this?




Consider applying for YC's W25 batch! Applications are open till Nov 12.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: