A new study published in the journal Terrorism and Political Violence presents a comparative study of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S.’ legal provisions about the right to freedom of expression, hate crime, and proscription of terrorist organizations.
The study found a disparity in the form of expression protected under this right. This disparity widens further when related to hate crime and proscribing groups as terrorist organizations.
As such, social media and communications companies have difficulty setting at global level a baseline in determining whether content is legitimate commentary or is extremism promoting or inciting hatred and violence.
The article concludes with a recommendation for how states can provide comparable legislation on hate crime as they have done in relation to Islamist inspired extremism.