Glastonbury chanters or the Southport hate-tweeter throw the book at one, you must throw it at them all | Marina Hyde
Briefly

Avon and Somerset police are investigating bands Bob Vylan and Kneecap over their performances at Glastonbury, which raises concerns about speech-related criminality in the UK. The possibility of creating prisons for individuals facing investigation for their words suggests a troubling shift towards criminalizing speech. This aligns with calls for the BBC’s involvement due to its handling of the situation, indicating a broader societal issue regarding the regulation of speech. The persistence of hate speech videos on prominent platforms further complicates discussions of accountability and censorship.
The situation highlights a growing trend of punishing individuals for their speech rather than actions, raising concerns about the implications for freedom of expression in the UK.
The notion of creating prisons specifically for individuals investigated for their words reflects fears about becoming a society that criminalizes speech over actions, akin to authoritarian regimes.
Calls for urgent investigations and prosecutions regarding public statements made during performances signal an alarming shift toward regulating speech in a democratic society.
The double standard shown in the handling of hate speech by various platforms raises questions about accountability and the selective enforcement of consequences across media outlets like the BBC and MailOnline.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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