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Whatever happened to the notion of free speech?

Recently a number of people have been sued for exercising their free speech rights on the Internet. We're (presumably) all aware of the DMCA prosecutions publicised by the EFF (Sklyarov, 2600 Magazine, etc.), but less publicized lawsuits intended to shut up critics are also a problem. For example, PetsWareHouse.com has sued a number of their critics for criticising their service. Similarly, an often-disciplined hair transplant doctor who has been fined, barred from practicing in California, etc. is suing a former patient who dared criticise him on the Internet claiming libel and cybersquatting.

In meatspace, a prominent critic of a wealthy and vindictive cult was finally forced to seek political asylum in Canada. His crime? Picketing the cult's heavily-guarded headquarters. How long until Internet criticisms bring the same retribution? [Note: Just so that I don't end up being the first example of such, I will not give more details on the wealthy and vindictive cult or the man it forced out of the country.]

Now, I don't like cold weather, and I'd prefer to stay here in the Arizona desert, a climate more to my liking. If you, too, prefer to stay here in the U.S. rather than have to seek political asylum to escape prosecution for exercising your free speech rights, might I suggest donating money to defend those who are being sued for free speech? The EFF and Public Citizen are both worthy of your donation, as is the APD List Members defense fund.

-- Eric Lee Green