As an example of a society in which this phenomenon is occurring, Wildstein gave France: “As part of combating hate speech in France, and not just there, one may be persecuted for anti-abortionist claims,” Wildstein said in an interview for Radio Wnet.
He also explained that people have been sentenced for claiming that opening the country up to Muslim immigration will change France’s culture.
Wildstein argued that the so-called “combating” hate speech will not help solve political tensions in Poland. The journalist claimed that the opposition doesn’t seem too keen on stopping the conflict. “The opposition completely without merit is accusing the government for what happened in Gdańsk. At the same time, they are calling for an end to hate speech. So I ask, who really is spreading hate speech?”
The opposition completely without merit is accusing the government for what happened in Gdańsk. At the same time, they are calling for an end to hate speech. So I ask, who really is spreading hate speech?
Wildstein underlined exactly why the opposition attacks Law and Justice (PiS): “The opposition’s struggle with PiS is about delegitimizing them, because they proposed different political solutions and criticized the Third Polish Republic, which was deemed as “hate speech.”
The issue is that although social media gave a platform for everyone to speak, it has created a tribal division instead of a public forum for discussion. “There is no place for argumentation and explanation. If you have a few-hundred characters, then you can beat someone up. Something that was meant to bring amazing consequences also brought so much evil,” Wildstein explained.
“Can something be done? No. Every idea about what to do with this – which has already happened in the EU – are attempts to censor the internet in favor of dominating forces,” the journalist concluded.
