Quote:
Originally Posted by Flagg
I’d push back a bit about free speech outside the US.
Japan has fairly robust legal framework for free speech.
South Korea does as well, but with restrictions on anything supportive of North Korea and “national security” which could undermine the right is used malignantly.
Australia has free speech enshrined in case law
New Zealand has free speech embedded in its human rights legislation.
Australia/NZ both in particular top the power distance index(lack of respect for authority) where outlier opinions are accepted/tolerated.
But in having said that, none have the 2nd ammendment to deter tyranny(although Aus/NZ both have ridiculous numbers of firearms owners).
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Wrong and wrong.
Japan, free speech, nope, has hate speech “laws” yes. And has used them in court to punish.
Australia, has free speech, nope. Has hate speech laws and will throw you in
prison.
http://www.findlaw.com.au/articles/4...-in-austr.aspx
Some of us may presume that because we live in a liberal democracy like Australia, certain personal freedoms are a given – like free speech – and that any imposition on a person’s speech would be viewed as an attempt to curtail the freedom. Additionally, we’re going to presume (for the sake of the topic of this piece) that many Australians would be familiar with the US Constitution and specifically the First Amendment which states; “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…”, and we’re going to also guess (again for efficacy) that some people may believe that we here in Australia also enjoy a similar type of Constitutional protection: But do we? Well… it must be said that Australia’s free speech laws are interesting to say the least.
First, let’s get the easy part out of the way:
Australia does not have an explicit First Amendment equivalent enshrining the protection of freedom of speech in our Constitution. So where does this leave us? Well, it wasn’t until 1992 in Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Wills and Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (ACTV) 177 CLR 1 where the issue of free speech was significantly dealt with.
And I don't want to "argue" that Australia's freedom of speech is defended by "case law". If a nation thinks that little of their freedom of speech, not to add it to their constitution then they deserve their fate. In America our military defends the Constitution, not case law. Think about that.
New Zealand, seems free speech might still be intact.