E-Mail Case Not Protected Speech
* Re “E-Mail Hate Case Tests Free Speech Protections,” July 8:
One question arises: Should speech on a largely unregulated computer network be subject to the same legal standards as speech in any other medium?
Recently, the overwhelming ruling by the Supreme Court relating to free press and the Internet clearly favored an individual or a group’s right to open publication.
However, Richard Machado clearly overstepped his freedom of press and speech when he verbally threatened various Asian students at UC Irvine.
No individual or group should be allowed to entertain personal, individual attacks on another based on race. Those who do so attempt to dodge what the law mandates as promoting individual freedoms to further their private agendas.
DANIEL CHAPIN
Laguna Beach
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