Discussion questions for April 9, 2009

Let's take a look at some laws that deal with restricting
freedom of speech on the Internet.
The online folder cs.furman.edu/~chealy/fys1107/free-speech
contains some short articles outlining these laws and a couple
of cases where such laws have been violated.  You may find it 
helpful to find some further information on the subject.


Singapore:  Sedition Act

1.  What does this law say?  What is its purpose?
As you read the law, what sort of actions do you think it
is trying to prohibit?


2.  How exactly did Benjamin Koh Seng Huat, Nicholas Lim Yew
and Gan Huai Shi violate the sedition law?  Do you think
the punishments were generally appropriate?


Canada:  Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act

3.  What does section 13 deal with?  How is a human
rights act different from the criminal code?


4.  What is the rationale behind section 13 and the
human rights act in general?


5.  Who are these people:  Dean Steacy, Richard Warman and
Marc Lemire?  What is your impression of the CHRC
tactics as described in the Maclean's column by Mark Steyn?


6.  In Canada, who supports/opposes Section 13?  Is this provision
a bad idea, or rather a good idea that has been implemented poorly?


7.  What do these laws in Singapore and Canada tell us about
how people view (Internet) communication in these countries?
Are these kinds of laws common around the world?