Hong Kong protests: judge urges social media users to ‘reflect’ on online speech as he jails man for 7 months over anti-police Facebook comment
- Judge notes online platforms’ tendency to further polarise opposing groups by presenting users with information that confirms their previous biases
- The defendant was jailed over a Facebook post suggesting police officers would not be able to identify their assailants if they suffered a blow to the head
Speaking from the bench, District Judge Clement Lee Hing-nin said online platforms made it convenient to disseminate information, but also increased the risk of spreading fake news and hate speech.
The design of such platforms, which often funnelled information to users that confirmed beliefs they already held, also limited people’s access to diverse viewpoints, further polarising groups with different stances, he continued.
“Though most people are rational, there are radicals who would make use of social media to conduct unlawful or inciteful acts,” Lee said. “Therefore, social media users should reflect.”
Lee made the comments as he sentenced Tony Choi Yick-man to seven months behind bars for suggesting on Facebook that police officers would not be able to identify their assailants if they suffered a serious blow to the head.