Elon Musk has blasted Irish PM Leo Varadkar for 'destroying democracy' (Image: Getty)
Elon Musk has railed against Leo Varadkar's government over a controversial new bill tipped to "destroy" democracy in Ireland.
The new Hate Speech Bill is one of the most hotly-debated pieces of legislation set to be passed in Ireland and has attracted high-profile criticism from X CEO Elon Musk and other celebrities.
The proposed legislation will establish statutes for addressing incitement to violence or hatred.
But critics say the proposed legislation curtails freedom of expression as there is little clarity on what defines incitement to hatred.
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Today Musk doubled down on his criticism of the controversial bill by sharing a campaign video by Free Speech Ireland.
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Destroying freedom of speech means destroying democracy https://t.co/ElgTOHMzaj
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 15, 2024
His post read: “Destroying freedom of speech means destroying democracy.”
Free Speech Ireland’s post read: “The Irish government wants to pass a law that could see you or your loved ones jailed for possession of memes, cartoons or any content that could be deemed 'hateful'.
“The Bill includes no definition of hate and is wide open to abuse by bad actors.”
It added: “Defend free speech – say no to this legislation.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has previously given short shrift to Musk’s criticism.
Mr Varadkar told the Sunday Independent: "He cannot just challenge a law in the courts and certainly not one that isn’t even a law yet. I suspect he doesn’t know what he means and is just showboating.”
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And a spokesperson for the Department of Justice was previously reported as saying "the real purpose of this bill is protecting those who are most vulnerable" to hate crime and hate speech.
They added in the BBC report that “Ireland does not have specific hate crime offences set out in law, making us an outlier in the western world.”
The bill will mean that bigger sentences can be given if someone is convicted of assaulting a person on the basis of hatred for “protected characteristics” which include race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and disability.
The inital timeline that was set by the Government was to try and pass the law before Christmas - but there has now been a delay.
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Free Speech Ireland’s website explained more. It said: “The Minister for Justice, who is responsible for the Hate Speech Bill, has conceded that she will not rush the Bill through the remaining Seanad stages.
“So concerned citizens and voters still have some time to make their views known.
“Please do so – especially to Government TD’s and Senators, and directly to the Department of Justice."
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