[Infowarrior] - More online idiocy by Sen Joe Lieberman

[Richard Forno]

Senator Lieberman asks Google to add 'terrorist' label to Blogger posts
By James Gaskin, ITworld |  Cloud Computing, Blogger, Google 5 comments

http://www.itworld.com/cloud-computing/227991/senator-lieberman-asks-google-add-terrorist-label-blogger

November 25, 2011, 8:07 AM —


U.S. Senator from Connecticut Joe Lieberman pauses during remarks at news conference in Stamford, CT, January 19, 2011.

REUTERS/Mike Segar

Terrorist suspect Jose Pimentel had a blog on Blogger, owned by Google. Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) wants Google to add a "terrorist" flag so readers can label terrorist content.

Lieberman sent a letter (yes, on paper, but that's the best way to show the United States Senate letterhead) to Google CEO Larry Page taking him to task because "Blogger's Content Policy does not expressly ban terrorist content," and some other details. Lieberman goes on to point out that YouTube, also owned by Google, does ban terrorist content. He adds, quote, "Google's inconsistent standards are adversely affecting our ability to counter violent Islamist extremism online." So Blogger could hold back terrorists if it wanted to?

Unfortunately, Lieberman doesn't define what he considers "terrorist content" or whether deleting posts with such content is within the purview of Blogger or the First Amendment. Google, not surprisingly, has yet to comment. Wonder if Larry Page still wished he had Eric Schmidt to handle such political fun and games.

Nice little end run around the Constitution there, Joe. The government can't suppress free speech, so just strong-arm the private sector into "volunteering" to do it.