<div class="header-image"></div> <table class="table-header"> <thead> <tr> <th colspan="2"></th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>2024-08-10</td> <td style="text-align: right;"><a href="About.md" class="internal-link">About</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> # The UK Riots and the Death of Free Speech  I had initially begun writing a post about the UK riots, talking about the utter idiocy of the continual civil unrest for every cause under the sun. For the last four years, we've seen statues being torn down, priceless art vandalised, highways blocked, fires lit, police stations and government buildings occupied, and storefronts destroyed. Cars have been overturned and set ablaze, people are getting attacked. Murder and mayhem are the order of the day. This is happening in France, Canada, the US, the UK, Spain and elsewhere, and these occurrences are becoming only more frequent. I've [written about this already,](../Blog/2024-05-30%20Individualism%20and%20the%20Art%20of%20Not%20Caring.md) and using current events to drive home this point could start getting repetitive. Instead, I think it's warranted to look at how the police, and judicial law, in the UK is responding to these riots. A man was just [sentenced to 20 months in prison](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/aug/09/two-men-jailed-for-social-media-posts-that-stirred-up-far-right-violence) for talking about these riots on social media, with the judge saying he inspired others to join in the fray. This is 20 months for a social media post. There are people who commit violent acts who get less time, such as this man, who is to be released after [6 months for killing a teen in a machete attack.](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13713889/mother-teen-killed-machete-attack-killers-released.html) And the UK government has promised that more arrests are forthcoming. >[!quote] >*"Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions of England and Wales, [warned](https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1821178852397477984) that there are 'dedicated police officers' tasked with 'scouring social media' to 'follow up with identification [and] arrests' when people 'publish or distribute material which is insulting or abusive which is intended to or likely to start racial hatred.'"* > > - https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3116592/the-uk-descends-into-dystopian-levels-of-censorship/ I can't help but wonder if there was any scouring of social media during the [violence of the UK 2020 riots.](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52949014). I feel the need to add here that violent protesters need to be arrested. I have no sympathy for any group causing damage or disrupting the lives of citizens who just want to get on with their day. But an online post doesn't disrupt the lives of anyone. If a post inspires someone to do something stupid, then consequences should be directed *at the person doing that stupid thing*. Individuals cannot be held responsible for the wrongdoings of anyone else. If a post is deserving of criticism, then by all means, criticise it. Engage in your stupid little online culture war. But there's no need to *police* stupid posts by stupid people. Arrest people doing illegal things in the real world. This world is rife with the history of what happens to people who are not allowed to speak their minds. It always starts with something like hate speech, but eventually it turns into imprisonment for criticising the government. And once that's illegal, tyranny always follows. At some point I'm going to write a post about the responsibilities of social media companies to regulate their platforms, and what, if any, laws should be enacted to govern their operations. There is a lot to say in that matter, and I do believe that regulation is needed to curb online idiocy from spilling out into public spaces. >[!note] Updates > - 2024-09-10 >I have now written about this here: [2024-09-08 Social Winds and Social Media](2024-09-08%20Social%20Winds%20and%20Social%20Media.md) > --- > - 2024-08-14 >I saw this video of Rowan Atkinson speak on behalf of the Reform Section 5 campaign in the UK, over a decade ago. I thought it would be appropriate to include it here. > >