New Zealand Passes Onerous Bill Limiting Freedom of Speech

New Zealand has passed legislation on “cyber-bullying” that has the potential to destroy freedom of speech and religion in that country. The Harmful Digital Communications Bill “will censor posts deemed offensive, racist, abusive or show religious intolerance” (“Mind Your Manners: New Zealand Criminalises Online Trolling to Prevent ‘Hurt Feelings,’” Breitbart, Jul. 2, 2015). That covers almost everything! All that is necessary for action to be taken is for an individual to claim that he has suffered “serious emotional distress” by something published on the Internet. Further, the (allegedly) aggrieved party can remain anonymous. Laws designed to protect people’s feelings can do nothing but destroy every semblance of freedom of speech and religion. We have no doubt that there will be a line of aggrieved queued up to take advantage of this new law, and the real bullying will be the nanny state’s bullying of those who don’t kowtow to political correctness. Last week, a Christian couple in Oregon, Aaron and Melissa Klein, were ordered to pay $135,000 to two lesbians for “emotional suffering” because they refused to make them a wedding cake in 2013.

(Friday Church News Notes, July 17, 2015, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

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