Jinn of Current Events

The Council of Europe has adopted a dictatorial measure that would institute Internet censorship by criminalising so-called "hate speech," including hyperlinks to pages that contain offensive content.

Does anyone in Europe remember why Voltaire said Je ne suis pas d'accord avec ce que vous dites, mais je me battrai jusqu'au bout pour que vous puissiez le dire i.e. I disagree with what you say, but I will fight to death so that you can say it. Another relevant quote from the Age of Reason, by Thomas Jefferson: I have sworn... eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. Not that one would expect modern-day European politicians to know anything about that.

To be more specific, the European Union bans any written material, any image or any other representation of ideas or theories, which advocates, promotes or incites hatred, discrimination or violence, against any individual or group of individuals, based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, as well as religion if used as pretext for any of these factors. [via Wired and a good analysis at USS Clueless]