Category: Free Speech

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Terrorism and the abuse of fundamental rights

Acts of terrorism in France and Austria call for reflection on the political and tactical use of human rights by States as an instrument of anti-terrorist propaganda. Is the exercise of fundamental freedoms put at risk in the name of realpolitik? The analysis of Andrea Monti, adjunct professor of Law and Order and Public Security, University of Chieti-Pescara – Originally published in Italian by Formiche.net

There is no way, at least for now, of knowing whether the murder of the French teacher Samuel Paty, the killing of three people in Nice and the massacre in Vienna are the execution of a global plan, or whether they are individual events, planned and carried out by individuals or criminal cells. We also ignore if the spark that triggered them is – once again – the satire of Charlie Hebdo (a fact certainly connected to the assassination of Samuel Paty, but not to the others). Continue reading “Terrorism and the abuse of fundamental rights”

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Why Twitter and Facebook scare politicians in the US (and beyond)

Big Techs are an active part of electoral competitions and are not subject to rules and controls, so much so that they can change their decisions, even diametrically without suffering any consequences. The analysis by Andrea Monti, Professor of Law of Order and Public Security, University of Chieti-Pescara – Originally published in Italian by Formiche.net Continue reading “Why Twitter and Facebook scare politicians in the US (and beyond)”

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COVID-19: serological tests, snake-oil, eggheads in Italy

Pure irrationality, same irrationality that over the years led desperate people to believe in the “Di Bella method” or in the Stamina method to cure cancer or even before that in the “Filipino healers” and other forms of medical superstition spreads in the times of COVID-19.

“Serological tests” for the self-diagnosis of the presence of antibodies specific for the Coronavirus are now on sale. Still, notwithstanding their doubtful effectiveness, they have great commercial success. These tests do not claim explicitly to have a 100% guarantee of actually identify the presence of COVID-19 and make clear that only a physician should administer it. But as they are freely available online, they “cash in” the public hysteria of being able to know “if they have taken the virus”. Continue reading “COVID-19: serological tests, snake-oil, eggheads in Italy”

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COVID-19: the Italian Communication Authority to put users’ control duties on platforms and not on ISP

The non-news is spreading in Italy that a report by TGR Leonardo (a National Broadcasting News programme aimed at divulgation of science) in 2015 exposed the creation, in a Sino-American project, of a COVID extracted from a bat and able to infect humans directly.

Although the video is original and the information herein is correct, the effect of its “exhumation” from the Italian Broadcasting Service (RAI) archives has caused a tide of irrational reactions. From global-plot alarms to more timid no-comment link (obviously, to be able to “self-defend” in case the video was altered or fake. Continue reading “COVID-19: the Italian Communication Authority to put users’ control duties on platforms and not on ISP”