Regulating hate speech on social media: should we or shouldn`t we?

Hate speech posted online is becoming a rising concern, particularly with the advancements in technology. Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites have been widely used as a medium for disseminating offensive, abusive and hateful content. There have been instances where such content has led to...

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Main Authors: Wan Mohd Nor, Murni, Ab Razak, Shahir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Malayan Law Journal 2017
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/62936/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/62936/1/Regulating%20hate%20speech%20on%20social%20media.pdf
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author Wan Mohd Nor, Murni
Ab Razak, Shahir
author_facet Wan Mohd Nor, Murni
Ab Razak, Shahir
author_sort Wan Mohd Nor, Murni
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Hate speech posted online is becoming a rising concern, particularly with the advancements in technology. Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites have been widely used as a medium for disseminating offensive, abusive and hateful content. There have been instances where such content has led to public outcry and even criminal prosecution. This article focuses on the issue of restricting hate speech on social media in Malaysia by examining online postings that offend racial and religious sensitivities; emphasising on the recent amendments to the Sedition Act 1948. It then considers the effects of these amendments on free speech and weighs them against the need to preserve peace and harmony within the community. The article concludes by arguing for the repeal of arbitrary restrictions that hinder our basic human rights to free speech and make recommendations as to what needs consideration if and when hate speech is specifically legislated against.
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spelling upm-629362018-10-22T08:46:01Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/62936/ Regulating hate speech on social media: should we or shouldn`t we? Wan Mohd Nor, Murni Ab Razak, Shahir Hate speech posted online is becoming a rising concern, particularly with the advancements in technology. Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites have been widely used as a medium for disseminating offensive, abusive and hateful content. There have been instances where such content has led to public outcry and even criminal prosecution. This article focuses on the issue of restricting hate speech on social media in Malaysia by examining online postings that offend racial and religious sensitivities; emphasising on the recent amendments to the Sedition Act 1948. It then considers the effects of these amendments on free speech and weighs them against the need to preserve peace and harmony within the community. The article concludes by arguing for the repeal of arbitrary restrictions that hinder our basic human rights to free speech and make recommendations as to what needs consideration if and when hate speech is specifically legislated against. Malayan Law Journal 2017-08-29 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/62936/1/Regulating%20hate%20speech%20on%20social%20media.pdf Wan Mohd Nor, Murni and Ab Razak, Shahir (2017) Regulating hate speech on social media: should we or shouldn`t we? Malayan Law Journal, 4. pp. 1-11. ISSN 0025-1283 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321529397/download
spellingShingle Wan Mohd Nor, Murni
Ab Razak, Shahir
Regulating hate speech on social media: should we or shouldn`t we?
title Regulating hate speech on social media: should we or shouldn`t we?
title_full Regulating hate speech on social media: should we or shouldn`t we?
title_fullStr Regulating hate speech on social media: should we or shouldn`t we?
title_full_unstemmed Regulating hate speech on social media: should we or shouldn`t we?
title_short Regulating hate speech on social media: should we or shouldn`t we?
title_sort regulating hate speech on social media: should we or shouldn`t we?
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/62936/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/62936/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/62936/1/Regulating%20hate%20speech%20on%20social%20media.pdf