Wales' War on Free Speech: Controversial Plan Criminalizes Politicians' Lies
Submitted by MAGA
Posted 87 days ago
Wales is moving forward with a controversial plan to criminalize politicians for telling lies, a move that has sparked concerns about free speech and the potential for selective prosecution.
The proposal, which is being pushed by Adam Price, the former leader of the liberal Plaid Cymru Party, would make Wales the first country in the world to impose criminal sanctions for lying politicians. The law would make it a criminal offense for a member of the Senedd, or a candidate for election to the Senedd, to wilfully, or with intent to mislead, make or publish a statement that is known to be false or deceptive.
While the proposal has received support from a key committee, it has also been met with criticism from free speech advocates who argue that the law could be used to silence dissenting voices and stifle political debate. The defense of the law, which allows for a statement to be deemed an opinion, is also seen as problematic as it creates uncertainty as to which statements would be deemed an opinion and which would be treated as a statement of fact.
The proposal is also seen as a continuation of the assault on free speech in the United Kingdom, which has seen a rise in the criminalization of speech in recent years. Examples of this include the conviction of a man for sending a tweet while drunk referring to dead soldiers, the arrest of a woman who was praying to herself near an abortion clinic, and the passing of a new crime law in Scotland covering "stirring up hatred" relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex.
The anti-free speech movement in the United Kingdom should serve as a cautionary tale for Americans, as the same alliance of government, media, and academic forces are working to reduce the protections for free speech in the United States. As the international movement has left free speech in tatters in the West, it is important for free speech advocates to unite against this rising tide.
The proposal in Wales is a reminder that the struggle for free speech is a global one, and that it is important for free speech advocates to remain vigilant in the face of efforts to criminalize speech and stifle political debate. The potential for selective prosecution and the chilling effect on free speech that this law could have should be a concern for all those who value the right to free speech.
Sources:
jonathanturley.org
thegatewaypundit.com
thegatewaypundit.com
The proposal, which is being pushed by Adam Price, the former leader of the liberal Plaid Cymru Party, would make Wales the first country in the world to impose criminal sanctions for lying politicians. The law would make it a criminal offense for a member of the Senedd, or a candidate for election to the Senedd, to wilfully, or with intent to mislead, make or publish a statement that is known to be false or deceptive.
While the proposal has received support from a key committee, it has also been met with criticism from free speech advocates who argue that the law could be used to silence dissenting voices and stifle political debate. The defense of the law, which allows for a statement to be deemed an opinion, is also seen as problematic as it creates uncertainty as to which statements would be deemed an opinion and which would be treated as a statement of fact.
The proposal is also seen as a continuation of the assault on free speech in the United Kingdom, which has seen a rise in the criminalization of speech in recent years. Examples of this include the conviction of a man for sending a tweet while drunk referring to dead soldiers, the arrest of a woman who was praying to herself near an abortion clinic, and the passing of a new crime law in Scotland covering "stirring up hatred" relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex.
The anti-free speech movement in the United Kingdom should serve as a cautionary tale for Americans, as the same alliance of government, media, and academic forces are working to reduce the protections for free speech in the United States. As the international movement has left free speech in tatters in the West, it is important for free speech advocates to unite against this rising tide.
The proposal in Wales is a reminder that the struggle for free speech is a global one, and that it is important for free speech advocates to remain vigilant in the face of efforts to criminalize speech and stifle political debate. The potential for selective prosecution and the chilling effect on free speech that this law could have should be a concern for all those who value the right to free speech.
Sources:
jonathanturley.org
thegatewaypundit.com
thegatewaypundit.com
Latest News