This is what can happen in the UK - people can be fined, punished, or even thrown in jail for "offensive communications" - for example a hateful or offensive Facebook or Twitter post.



Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile/...nline.html.csp



Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-19883828



Arrested, taken into custody, fined, even jailed for Facebook posts? For posting a picture of a burning poppy? I don't care if a post is offensive, it doesn't merit jail. That goes against the whole principle of free speech, it's absurd.

What are your thoughts?

Freedom of speech, y'all. They can talk all the **** they want if they're understanding of the SOCIAL consequences, but I don't believe it's the government's place to step in at all, since they can start using "offensive" in an arbitrary way.

In most cases, no. If they're threatening, then of course they should be punished.

No, that's absurd. Governments have bigger problems than what individuals say online.

Yes but only if they're VERY hating and dangerous for other people's lives.

People have been arrested in my country for saying racist things on Facebook So stupid how serious they take these things.

If that was the case in a worldwide front, this site would be dead.
It's ridiculous to govern what people say to the extent of saying "go to hell" or something as minuscule as that.
If you're threatening someone's life, then measures should be taken as a follow up. For throw away comments, you just walk away from them.

The government is trying to control the uncontrollable. The internet is too massive to monitor. For every offender they take down (and waste time and money prosecuting, mind you), there are thousands of others spewing the same thing or worse. People should learn to not take things so seriously on line, and on the flip side, people should learn there are certain limits that should be taken with what you say.

No, it's a very slippery slope. They should get into trouble for inciting violence only, and a website has the right to determine it's own terms and conditions for banning, etc, but they shouldn't be arrested for hateful things only.

screw freedom of speech when people have no moral.
talk SHlT get hit.
its my family rule

It matters what we define as "offensive". The ones you listed in the OP shouldn't have the government intervening.

Online posts should only be punishable if:

- They are direct threats
- They promote/encourage direct threats

I think the way it is right now is slightly too harsh. I don't want everyone to be able to be racist and discriminatory but people don't need to be put in prison for their opinions. That's like North Korea.

No.

but of topic .. will there ever be a video for Break Free or did I miss it

And they say the US is ass-backwards.

This. Racist comments although saddening shouldn't be punished. It would be nicer if someoen can come to terms with themselves somehow instead of Government intervening. I agree with what should be punishable, when you wish death or pain to other people then it gets messy

No problem with wishing death, it's different than threats, I've seen people here do it when someone is convicted of a disgusting crime, ie, "that guy deserves to be tortured and killed!"

Saying "I hope X dies" is totally different than "I'm going to kill X"

I wished death upon PopJustice for having such asinine rules and didn't even get warned

True as well. This is very situational based so its tough, overall government shouldn't get to involved with what people say online.

I disagree with this. If it's inciting violence against people then yes, but saying "they should go to hell" or making a joke should not be punished by jail. It gives too much power to those who decide what is punishable or not.

If they threaten someone then obviously. Otherwise you can just block the person.
About 3 weeks ago a Beyonce fan said they were gonna kill my entire family in front of my eyes and I went to the police.