What are the laws regarding online hate speech?

Online hate speech is speech that expresses or promotes hatred toward a certain group based on characteristics such as race, religion, or sexual orientation. In Washington, the state has laws against hating speech, or “malicious harassment”. According to the state’s Revised Code of Washington, it is a crime to threaten to cause bodily injury, physical damage, or injury to the property of any person, or to engage in a course of conduct or repeatedly commit acts which alarm or seriously annoy another person, on the basis of any of the following perceived or actual characteristics: race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. It is important to note that Washington also has laws protecting an individual’s freedom of speech. If a person’s speech does not rise to the level of malicious harassment, it may be protected by the First Amendment. That being said, many companies have their own policies when it comes to online hate speech, and may take action if someone is using their platform to promote hateful rhetoric. In Washington, it is also illegal for anyone to incite violence online against an individual or group. This may include threats to do bodily harm, as well as encouraging others to do so. Any type of online hate speech that meets the definition of malicious harassment or that incites violence may result in criminal charges. Individuals should be mindful of their words when speaking or writing online, and be aware that their words may have legal consequences.

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What are the laws regarding online hate speech?

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