Hate speech on your Facebook page may land you in court

[Kevin Lancaster]

Hate speech on your Facebook page may land you in court

The Equality Court sitting in the Western Cape High Court will on Tuesday hear a hate speech case against Afrikaans songstress Sunette Bridges

 

[cfilorux]

Equality: some are more equal than others

What a pity the court papers will never see the light of day, and the public will just have to accept their word for it that she reached for the stars, rode on the wind and all of that in a racist and hateful kind of way. It's a terrible crime to write while Afrikaans. What's next? Are these people going to allowed to sing?

 

[MickeyD]

Am not a fan of hers (at all) but would like to see consistent application of the law... some of the replies on her page are even worse than what she posted! Are those folks also being prosecuted?

 

[SeRpEnT]

The MBB article could at least have done some homework and listed some more examples of her "hate speech" on her FB page.
We are all in the dark here as to what was said. (Please note that the word "dark" was not used in a racist connotation. Please dont sue me.)

 

[Mbuzi]

The MBB article could at least have done some homework and listed some more examples of her "hate speech" on her FB page.
We are all in the dark here as to what was said. (Please note that the word "dark" was not used in a racist connotation. Please dont sue me.)

Dark? You will be sued by Eskom, they own that word 100%.

On a serious note, any person of any colour should be treated the same when it comes to racist comments and/or abuse. Why is there no law to deal with such people? We need law that will be constant and at least equal.

 

[Petec]

Erm....

And "kill the boer". And "we will slaughter their white children" is not hate speech?

Interesting...

 

[cozinsky]

Am not a fan of hers (at all) but would like to see consistent application of the law... some of the replies on her page are even worse than what she posted! Are those folks also being prosecuted?

I am not a fan of her either but as a proponent for free speech I believe she has the right to voice her opinion whether I agree with her or not. Whether she can be held accountable for the blatant racists comments on her posts is a different matter altogether. The argument is that she should exercise control over her followers. Personally I think it is going too far to keep her accountable for her followers remarks. The followers should be held accountable in their personal capacities.

 

[kianm]

Wonder what she has been saying

 

[marine1]

Facebook is a private page not like twitter. If you are there its right of admission reserved if your status and profile are private.
This is just a pathetic witch hunt
IMO

 

[MickeyD]

I am not a fan of her either but as a proponent for free speech I believe she has the right to voice her opinion whether I agree with her or not. Whether she can be held accountable for the blatant racists comments on her posts is a different matter altogether. The argument is that she should exercise control over her followers. Personally I think it is going too far to keep her accountable for her followers remarks. The followers should be held accountable in their personal capacities.

The reality is that our free speech is restricted by current legislation and we have to live with it or face the consequences or endeavor to have the legislation amended by peaceful means.

There is no way that she can control or be held accountable for remarks that she did not make.

The same prosecuting authority involved in her case cannot turn a blind eye to other blatant transgressions of the law, using the excuse that they only respond on complaints or if a member of the public presses charges or lays a complaint.

 

[member2204]

The same prosecuting authority involved in her case cannot turn a blind eye to other blatant transgressions of the law, using the excuse that they only respond on complaints or if a member of the public presses charges or lays a complaint.

EDIT: There are plenty of examples where people have transgressed MyBB's rules and mods turn a blind eye.

 

[Vrotappel]

She is not hosting those comments, Facebook is hosting them. Is Mark also going to be charged?

 

[zippy]

I am not a fan of her either but as a proponent for free speech I believe she has the right to voice her opinion whether I agree with her or not. Whether she can be held accountable for the blatant racists comments on her posts is a different matter altogether. The argument is that she should exercise control over her followers. Personally I think it is going too far to keep her accountable for her followers remarks. The followers should be held accountable in their personal capacities.

She cant be able liable for what other people say. However, free speech also means that her critics are entitled to publicly criticize her. And if she is not condemning the racist posts on her page, then she is going to be open to criticism that she supports their views. If she allows that on her page then she deserves to be associated with it. In her business, the stink of racism is far worse than any attempt to charge her. If she cant handle it then she never of started the discussion on her Facebook page.

 

[noxibox]

On a serious note, any person of any colour should be treated the same when it comes to racist comments and/or abuse. Why is there no law to deal with such people? We need law that will be constant and at least equal.

There should be no hate speech laws for anyone. But while there is a law it should be applied to all, including the ANC leadership.

 

[rph72]

For those that want to know what is being said. https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=625786784156926

 

[MickeyD]

View attachment 184596

EDIT: There are plenty of examples where people have transgressed MyBB's rules and mods turn a blind eye.

You did actually read what I posted, yes?

 

[Fudzy]

She's the admin of her toilet, imagine what this place would be like without stricter moderation. Thankfully rpm & his team know they have a business to run so it's in their interest to keep things (relatively) civil.

 

[Vrotappel]

Eerste dag van verhoor in die saak wat die MRK teen my voer is in 2 ure afgehandel.

Ek is ongelooflik dankbaar dat die hof, op aandrang van my prokureur, die volgende beslis het:

1. Dat daar ekspert-getuienis in die saak gelewer moet word oor hoe Facebook werk.

2. Dat alle aanklagte wat skrikftelik teen my ingedien is, bewys moet word en getoets kan word deur getuies te roep.

3. Dat ek self mag getuig in die saak teen my.

4. Dat die saak nie, soos versoek deur die MRK, slegs op papier gevoer kan word nie.

Ek berus by die beslissing van die hof dat Regter Desai self die saak wil aanhoor in Kaapstad.

Die datums vir die verhoor in Kaapstad is 2 Maart en 20 April.

Aan die media wat my al heeldag vra vir kommentaar:

"Bogenoemde is al kommentaar wat ek tans het rakende hierdie aangeleentheid. Ek word nou uiteindelik die kans gegun om dit wat ek op die hart het, in 'n hof te gaan getuig na jare van beskuldigings wat na my geslinger word sonder dat ek ooit die geleentheid of die platform gegun was om myself te verdedig."

...sien julle in die skadu van Tafelberg, waar alles begin het, op 2 Maart 2015! Sx

An expert needs to tell the 'court' how FB works. LOL