this post was submitted on 05 Nov 2024
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I know this is just a meme, but free speech has never been completely unrestricted. If I say (hypothetically of course) "I'm making specific plans to harm lots of innocent people for political purposes" I've just opened myself up to lawsuits and immediate arrest.
You can advocate for mass violence against innocent people. Define the entire group of innocent people as terrorists and you can call for violence against them. Call them Hamas and you will get away with it.
Terrorism is the magical word.
That entirely depends who those people are. If you said in the early 2000s say: I'm training to join the army to go kill some Iraqis to bring "freedom", you'd never get in trouble.
You also can’t commit fraud, slander, or false advertising with speech, yell fire in a crowded building, or use speech to incite any criminal actions.
At least in the US the restrictions are vastly overstated.