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submitted 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) by Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

Let's say you're a "benevolent dictator" with complete power over legislative and judicial processes. What laws would exist involving speech(public square and private)? What would punishments look like (if any)?

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[-] roofuskit@lemmy.world 12 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Ideologies that require harming others do not have the right to be promoted. Nazis, the Confederacy, etc... It's illegal in the United States to call for the death of someone, it is considered assault to threaten the life of someone. But its not illegal to promote Nazism, which calls for the deaths of millions. And its not illegal to fly the flag of a traitor nation built on the idea that humans can be property and thus snuffed out at any moment by their owners.

[-] balderdash9@lemmy.zip 4 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

Ideologies that require harming others do not have the right to be promoted.

This will just enforce the status quo. For instance, if the current regime is fascist and requires a revolution in order to overthrow, you have effectively outlawed talk of regime change. To be fair, a fascist regime would do that already, but the fact that a fascist regime would do it is another bad sign for your proposed law.

Maybe we could carve out an exemption for "harming others in self-defense"?

[-] roofuskit@lemmy.world 3 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

The fascist regimes also use free speech to promote their fascist regime.

But yeah, its an idea on social media, not a legal text.

[-] Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world 3 points 17 hours ago

You would implement similar laws to the US now with the addition of ideological speech based on harm? Seems pretty reasonable if you're the benevolent dictator. Would utilize punishments to offenders?

[-] roofuskit@lemmy.world 3 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

The same punishment as threatening someone's life.

this post was submitted on 21 May 2026
22 points (89.3% liked)

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