https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1831844025894367509

Originally posted on The Coalition of the Brave

Recently, Robert Kennedy Jr – a member of the famous Kennedy family – spoke that Kamala Harris, the Democrat presidential candidate, would censor free speech. He made his remarks because Ms Harris has vowed to clamp down on misinformation and hate speech. Not for the first time, we have this thorny ground, where questions come up as to where the line needs drawing.

Make no mistake, there are already lines in the sand on this matter. People can certainly say (and write) more or less what they want. This does not mean freedom from the consequences of doing so, which is why laws on slander and libel exist. By all means, exercise your freedom of speech, but if you are indeed spreading misinformation, what makes you think you should be spared the repercussions from doing so? Lie and deceive others, and don’t be astonished when this behaviour bites you in the rear. After all, lies, and hate speech for that matter, can carry serious, devastating consequences.

It is sort of telling that Mr Kennedy, who has thrown himself behind Donald Trump (the Republican candidate), wants to oppose efforts to clamp down on this sort of destructive practice. Trump made over 30 thousand misleading or false claims whilst in office. When someone as powerful and influential as the President of the United States is prepared to lie and mislead so often, it is hardly surprising that his supporters might baulk at attempts to curtail this sort of behaviour.

Of course, the question becomes: how? Freedom of speech is a valued principle around the world, and especially in the USA, where it is enshrined in the 1st Amendment. It may be considered, in some circumstances, better to let the Trumps of this world perjure themselves by their frequent dishonesty. Or would it? After all, lies and deception carry consequences that harm those on the receiving end, and when we are talking not only about the politics, economy and society of the world’s only superpower, but also global relations, it does not seem wise to permit people like Trump to lie with impunity.

I digress. How do you curtail misinformation and hate speech? Reconciling this aim with the policies and rights to freedom of speech does seem rather difficult to this meerkat. What can be done that is not already being done?

I do know that the bleating from the likes of Mr Kennedy is a fear reaction. They have been relatively consequence-free in their antics until now, and actions that deny them the opportunity to lie and deceive without consequences will terrify them. It should certainly worry Trump, because it may render him mute!