To better understand the controversial issues between hate sites and freedom of speech, we need to look at each one individually and define each term. According to What is Hate Crime?, The Criminal Code of Canada says a hate crime is "a commitment to intimidate, harm or terrify not only a person, but an entire group of people to which the victim belongs. The victims are targeted for who they are, not because of anything they have done" (CBC News, 2011). On the other hand, freedom of speech is the "Right to express one's ideas and opinions freely through speech, writing, and other forms of communication but without deliberately causing harm to others' character and/or reputation by false or misleading statements" (BusinessDictionaty.com, 2012). It is not always easy to distinguish when hateful content on the Internet crosses the line from being free to offensive. The line between hate speech and free speech is a thin one, and different setting have different levels of tolerance. The line is even thinner in digital environments where hateful comments posted lawfully in one place can be read in other places where they may be deemed unlawful.
A related example to hate sites vs. free speech is the display of 12 cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) in Danish newspaper and other European publications late 2005 and early 2006. According to Danish Cartoon Controversy article, violent protests erupted the world and Muslims throughout the Middle East and Africa rioted. "They burned embassies and churches and fight with police, at least 200 died and many more were injured" (New York Time, 2009). Issues were raised my European Muslims on how do we draw the line between free expression and respect for religion? And can Western democracies accommodate the growing culture and religious differences?. In a western society, drawing cartons of leaders and important powerful people might consider a good thing to send a massage to the world; however, other societies find it offensive and unacceptable because of the respect that some of us have for these important people.
