Law Student Web Forum: Free Speech Gone too Far? 264
The Xoxo Reader writes "Today's Washington Post carries a front-page article on the internet message board AutoAdmit (a.k.a. Xoxohth), which proclaims itself the "most prestigious law school discussion board in the world." The message board has recently come under fire for emphasizing a free speech policy that allows its users to discuss, criticize, and attack other law students and lawyers by name. Is this an example of free speech and anonymity gone too far, or is internet trolling just a necessary side effect of a policy that otherwise promotes insightful discussion of the legal community?"
Yeah (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Yeah (Score:4, Informative)
http://truecenterpoint.com/ce/essentials2.html [truecenterpoint.com]
This isn't an issue of free speech... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Good (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Good (Score:4, Informative)
Essentially, it's libel if you caused to be published something you don't reasonably know to be true
that is likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or that is designed to insult the person of or concerning whom it is published.
So, yes, you can talk smack about people. It just has to be true and in the best interest of the audience. For example, if you commited a petty offence, say shop lifting, 10 years ago. And I go around your book signing tour [say you wrote a book on gardening or something] writing reviews that revealed this fact and caused you harm. That could be considered libelous, since while true, is not in the best interest of the public (e.g. who cares) and it causes you harm (section 298).
Tom
Re:When Free Speech goes to far (Score:5, Informative)
Check out http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/03/07/w apo-calls-out-law-school-pervs/ [feministe.us]
Problem is, guess how much traction any of these women would get going to the police trying to get them to go after these guys.
Re:Good (Score:4, Informative)
Well, section 298 doesn't apply to this matter, since that's Canadian law, not US law. In the US, truth is an absolute defense against claims of libel. US libel laws are far more permissive than those of Commonwealth countries, and notably more permissive than those of the UK.