Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sun Tzu who wrote (96327)	4/25/2003 10:31:25 PM
From: LLLefty	Respond to of 281500

>>the fact remains that the media could tear him (Galloway) apart and get away with it if he is found innocent. This would be the opposite of what freedom of speech was meant to accomplish; instead of encouraging people to speak their mind, such a situation could convince the next person to keep his mouth shot and never voice unpopular opinions.<< You should know that British and American libel laws differ greatly. Freedom of speech is embedded in the US constitution; In Britain there is no such presumption. Suing--or threatening to--for libel is almost as much a national sport in Britain as malpractice suits here. It is much easier to win a libel suit in Britain since the claimant has to prove little other than he was defamed; it is up to the defense to prove otherwise. In the US, although I am far from an expert on libel law, one would have to prove "malice" to win a suit since "fair comment and criticism" is a defense, particularly against public (including celebrity) figures. In Britain, wild as its press appears, publshers are wary--and often intimidated simply by the threat of a libel action. I believe you will find here books in print that do not appear in Britain--and not because of secrecy laws. This brings me to the Galloway scandal. The Daily Telegraph took a huge financial risk--and certainly not rewarded by any circulation boost it may have gotten-- in breaking the news. Should it be wrong, Galloway would wind up owning the Telegraph and then, if he wished, go on to sue every publication in Britain and elsewhere for libeling him. He says he's suing.