Saturday, November 14, 2009

Can the First Amendment survive globalization?

Important story in the New York Times:

Two German Killers Demanding Anonymity Sue Wikipedia’s Parent


German law gives them anonymity. Wikipedia has complied with the law in their German language edition. Now, though, the lawyers want their names expunged from the English language edition.

Maybe Wikipedia is judgement proof because they have no assets or operations in Germany. Maybe there is no danger that they will face serious legal challenges in this country with the associated costs.

Here is my scary thought:

Could the lawyers go after telecoms and ISPs to make them block the offending articles? Could a foreign court force a multi-national company to enforce such blocks in all its operations?

(HT: AMSPECBLOG)

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