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we actually pulled it off and the new policy protects sites from being held responsible for user posts. honestly its a huge relief that we wont have to worry about this kind of overreach anymore. thanks for sticking with me while we fought for this.

September 25, 2006

Freedom of Speech over the Internet

Freedom of Speech over the Internet

🏆 Won — 417 supporters Verified

Final supporters

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Barbara
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social b.
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social b.
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social b.
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mxokcx
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Someone
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Someone
X
xandru t.
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Someone
S
Someone
+407 more
Started by Anonymous 20 years, 1 month ago
Currently if someone makes a defamatory remark about an individual in a chatroom/on a public message forum, the host of that chatroom/message board can be held liable and can face legal action from the individual/organization who is being defamed. Recently a popular parenting website has been threatened with legal action and/or closure because of views expressed about an individual by its members. While we feel that individuals should in some way be held accountable for their own actions, we do not feel that third parties such as web hosts and Internet Service Providers should face legal action because of the views expressed by those who use them. Doing this could be compared to closing down a pub because one member said something nasty to another one. It wouldn\'t happen in that situation, so why should it happen over the internet We want a change in the law to ensure that no action can be taken against websites/internet Service Providers/chatrooms or any other third party for the views that are being expressed by its members. Our aim is to send this petition to the Home Office on 1 January 2007.

Updates

Reached 250 supporters

August 9, 2006

Reached 100 supporters

August 8, 2006

6 Comments

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Rachel Stevens
20 years ago Featured

My local forums have already had to delete so many threads out of fear. Its killing the community. Enough already.

D
Dave Bryant
20 years ago Featured

THEY ARE LITERALLY DESTROYING FREE SPEECH. FIX THIS NOW.

J
Jessica Das
20 years ago Featured

This is just a way to shut down any discussion people dont like. Laws need to update because this is just plain unfair to the hosts.

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Tom Farah
20 years ago Featured

common sense says the person who typed the comment is responsible not the website. stop the madness.

M
Mark Wong
20 years ago Featured

Ridiculous. You dont sue the phone company for what someone says in a call. Same thing.

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Sarah Phillips
20 years ago Featured

Exactly. If people cant handle opinions online they should just stay off the internet. Stop punishing the forum owners for what other people type.