Ireland’s new Hate Speech Bill offers no clear definition of what “hate” entails. Experts warn this could pave the way for the criminal prosecution of a wide range of expression considered unfavourable by authorities.
The Bill, officially known as the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022, has passed through the lower house of the Irish parliament, the Dáil Éireann, and is currently at the Third Stage, or Committee Stage, in the upper house, the Seanad Éireann.
“The world is watching Ireland. The censorial ‘hate speech bill’, if passed, would not only shut down conversation nationally – as the home of various international social media headquarters, it would have a global impact on what we can all discuss online,” Michael Shellenberger said.
Shellenberger was speaking at the Ireland Free Speech Summit, which was held in Trinity College Dublin on Tuesday 18 June 2024 and hosted by Free Speech Irelandand supported by ADF International. The Summit saw a gathering of global voices for free speech expressing their concern about the pending Irish “Hate Speech” Bill.
Ireland’s proposed hate speech law could ‘censor the entire internet,’ experts warn
By Alliance Defending Freedom International
Global voices have united in concern about the “hate speech” bill pending before Irish parliament, as 1 in 4 Irish say they are worried about the erosion of free speech.
Speaking at the Irish parliament this month, “Twitter Files” journalist Michael Shellenberger stated clearly that “there is no hate crisis in Ireland”and that the case for censorship was brought about by “elite panic” trying to stifle open conversation and discourse among the Irish people.
The bill would make it an offence to possess (for distribution) material that could lead to “hatred” in Ireland, with punishment of up to 5 years in prison.
The bill would also impact the right to share views on social media across much of the world, with directors and executives of social media platforms with international HQs in Ireland (X, Facebook, and more) held accountable to the Irish government if found to be platforming undefined “hate speech.”
“The world is watching Ireland. The censorial ‘hate speech bill’, if passed, would not only shut down conversation nationally – as the home of various international social media headquarters, it would have a global impact on what we can all discuss online.
“A sweeping ban on undefined ‘hate’ gives authorities the power to determine which viewpoints are acceptable to voice. World history warns us that such power can be easily abused,” said Michael Shellenberger, international bestselling author and journalist behind the “Twitter Files.”
On the same day, giving the keynote address at the Ireland Free Speech Summit, which sold out amongst members of the public, Shellenberger suggested the goal of the bill may be to “censor the entire internet.”
The bill offers no clear definition of what “hate” entails. Experts warn this could pave the way for the criminal prosecution of a wide range of expression considered unfavourable by authorities.
The bill would further make refusal to give a password to an electronic device a crime, which would allow authorities to search and possibly find materials that are “hateful.”
New national polling commissioned by ADF International reveals a deep-seated concern amongst the Irish for the erosion of free speech, with a quarter revealing they already feel restricted in expressing their views and opinions in social settings like a pub, or in their place of work or study.
In the survey, conducted by Whitestone Insight*, 90% confirmed that free speech was “very important” to them – while the Irish parliament debates new and wide-ranging “hate speech” legislation, with egregious implications for the basic human right to free speech.
“The proposed ‘hate speech’ legislation would be one of the worst examples of censorship in the modern West. The bill purports to stamp out ‘hate speech’, but fails to define what ‘hate’ is – allowing authorities to censor any speech the state opposes.
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