Critics slam Scotland’s new hate speech law as an attack on freedom

A new Scottish law making it a criminal offense to spread hate speech against protected groups online or elsewhere went into force just in time for April Fools' Day.

The comments come as Scotland officially announced that its hate crime law aimed at providing "greater protection for victims and communities" came into force Monday, creating new criminal offenses for those who use "threatening or abusive" behavior intended to "stir up hatred based on prejudice toward characteristics including age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and variations in sex characteristics," according to a press release by the Scottish government.

The new law warns that people can be prosecuted for sharing offensive rhetoric across multiple media platforms, which includes "displaying, publishing or distributing the material e.g. on a sign; on the internet through websites, blogs, podcasts, social media etc., either directly, or by forwarding or repeating material that originates from a third party; through printed media such as magazine publications or leaflets, etc. Giving, sending, showing or playing the material to another person e.g. through online streaming, by email, playing a video, through public performance of a play, etc."