How to control the Internet
April 11, 2009 Canadian Politics, Culture, Freedom of Speech 1 CommentBy Dalwhinnie
I have this plan. I want to control the Internet. I find there is way too much free speech out there, particularly racist, sexist, right-wing hate speech. Yes, you are right. I have cracked. I have finally seen the error of my ways. I now acknowledge the importance of controlling speech from a human rights perspective, as Barbara Hall would have it. People should be accountable for what they say. How can this be done? How can Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn be countered? How can we end the seedy careers of Kathy Shaidle and her ilk?
Simple. Declare the Internet is broadcasting. No, I don’t mean broadcasting over the air. I mean “broadcasting” as in the Canadian Broadcasting Act: the propagation through a transmission medium of signals composed predominantly of full-motion video, or music.
No, please, I am not kidding. The Canadian Thought Control Commission (CTCC, formerly known as the CRTC) could spend a great deal of time estimating whether the inclusion of a video feed into a blog turns it into “broadcasting”. It could embroil the blogosphere in years of apprehension, litigation and speech “chill”. What fun! Jobs forever!
Consider the advantages:
