Conference on Anti-Semitism -- in Paris
Interesting - there is a world-wide conference on terrorist and anti-Semitic (hate crime) web sites being held in Paris (of all places given their current problems with this).
Reuters has the news:
U.S-French Gap Narrows Over Fighting Web Hate
bq. A transatlantic gap over fighting Internet hate crime is narrowing as the United States and France put aside differences to seek a common strategy against Web Sites spreading racism and anti-Semitism, experts said on Thursday.
bq. The two countries, which clashed in recent years over sales of Nazi memorabilia over the U.S.-based Yahoo portal, focused on practical ways to fight Internet hate crime at a two-day Paris conference on the issue, the experts from both states said.
bq. The conference was part of a series of meetings run by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to reach a broad agreement by December on common policies among all 55 members in Europe, North America and Central Asia.
bq. U.S. Assistant Attorney General Daniel Bryant said the talks had helped other countries understand Washington's strong legal guarantees on free speech, which have frustrated European government and courts trying to shut down U.S.-based hate sites.
bq. "Even so, there is a great deal of opportunity to move in common with our OSCE partners," he said after the end of the meeting at which delegates said the U.S. and French sides had taken the lead in seeking common ground.
bq. One French delegate said approvingly that Washington and Paris were now holding "a sustained dialogue" on the issues.
bq. "They thought countries would come here to criticize U.S. laws," he said on condition of anonymity. "But we're not trying to change the First Amendment. There is no hidden agenda."
bq. The Anti-Defamation League, a U.S. Jewish group that actively monitors hate sites on the Web, noted a growing consensus despite the contrasting traditions of U.S. free speech and European intervention against objectionable opinions.
Very cool - now if there are some teeth in their decisions, that would be excellent. One good thing is that the United Nations are not involved...
For an excellent website that tracks these pustules, check out
Internet Haganah ('Haganah' means defense.)
Posted by DaveH at June 17, 2004 10:29 AM