Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I don't know what your definition of "actual" free speech is but there are certainly limits to free speech even in the US[0].

And those are just explicit limits. Try supporting Palestine on a college campus or mentioning women or gay people in any government funded scientific publication, or finding a book portraying pro-LGBT content in a library or a school curriculum that portrays slavery in a way that "makes white people feel victimized" in the South.

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_free_speech_exce...





The limits to speech (in USA) depends (roughly) on if it's intended to incite imminent lawless action and is likely to do so.

Actual speech is communicating ideas or opinions, even distasteful or unpopular ones. The fact that university morons throw a riot if anyone disagrees with them (many such cases), does not affect your right to do so.

Denmark passed a law in 2023 that makes public burning, tearing, stepping on, or defiling holy texts illegal. It's informally called the Quran Law, because everyone knows who doesn't tolerate any criticism of their religion at all. This is one of many limits on speech in Denmark. In my view, speech is either free or it isn't, hence my argument that only USA has free speech.


thats a historical view, but not the most useful now that the second american revolution has happened.

things that lightly annoyed the president is now the decider between legal and illegal speech in the US, and the punishment is death, because nothing the president does that could be part of their regular responsibilities like talking to secret service assasins, can be considered in court proceedings.


Are the assassins in the room with us right now?

Supporting Palestine would get you deported to El Salvador (or worse) :)

Isn't freedom of speech just "you're allowed to say whatever you want", and not "you're entitled to the use of taxpayer dollars to help distribute your message" or "you're entitled to have the government force children to read your message"?

having a green card or visa stripped because you said something is not "having the government force children to read your message"



Consider applying for YC's Fall 2025 batch! Applications are open till Aug 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: