Welcome to Hillary Zhao's website for CS408

all we need is

Contact Information

Here is my Email address:fxw5@wildcats.unh.edu

Assignment 6: Hate and the Internet

Discussion Question

  1. How would you define "hate speech?"
  2. Would you advocate placing limits on free expression (as most European countries do) in order to deal with the problems posed by hate speech? If so, how would you define those limits?
  3. Should we attempt to reach an international consensus on how to define hate speech and on the standards (if any) to be applied in dealing with it?
  4. Is censorship or filtering of hate group websites ever appropriate? If so, under what circumstances?
  5. Should creators of hate-oriented Web sites be held responsible for actions of people (such as the 'lone wolves,' people who commit crimes of hatred without specific instructions) who view those sites and then commit hate crimes?
  6. Would you advocate special restrictions on making hate-related material available to children via the Internet? (If so, what would you propose?)
  7. Should there be any distinction between what is legal online and what is legal offline?
  8. Should the standards that apply to hate-related material be different from the standards that apply to other objectionable material such as pornography?

My Ideas

  1. My definition of hate speech is a speech that would cause negative influences. Hate speech may hurt other people emotionally, or cause mess in the public.
  2. I think I would do so. Even though people has rights of speech, for the good of a harmonious society, free expressions should be limited. Personally, I would suggest to forbid speech related to violence, also forbid spread of rumor which may cause mess.
  3. I think we should attempt to reach an international consensus. Becuase network can connect the whole world together, to share. Once all countries come to an agreement, people will get more advantages than disadvantages. Besides, if there is an international consensus on the definition of hate speech, many conflicts and fights will be avoided. But according to the present situation, it is hard for the world to reach the standard.
  4. If the websites of hate group is only for group members to communicate with each other, then it is their rights to speak among the group. If the websites is aim to spread these hate speech, then this behavior will cause problems to the whole society, and the websites should be filtered.
  5. Yes. Criminals are influenced by hate-oriented Webs. Creators are spreading hate speech which some people to crimes, they have a part of responsibilities for crimes.
  6. It depends on children's age. Children are always curious about everything,certainly, it is not good for them to access to hate-related materials on Internet. I would suggest children under certain age like 12, can not visit hate-related webs. When they grow up, they will realize what is good and what is bad. Of course, parents and teacher's proper orientation is necessary.
  7. No. Because Internet has already become an important part in people's daily life. It influences people a lot on many aspects. On the other hand, it will confuse people on laws.
  8. I think from the standard of Internet environment, they are same. Maybe hate-related materials are more serious, because it has more chances to cause problems like crimes in the real life.

Links