Cyber-Bigotry

Michael Gerson has a thoughtful piece in today’s Washington Post entitled “Banish the Cyber-Bigots.” When I saw the headline, I was concerned that Gerson might be pushing for content based regulation. He’s not. He acknowledges that “[l]egally restricting such content — apart from prosecuting direct harassment and threats against individuals or incitement to violence — is impossible. In America, the First Amendment protects blanket statements of bigotry.” But he suggests that mainstream sites be vigilant in policing their sites, and removing bigoted and abusive comments. That’s not a First Amendment violation; it’s just a matter of promoting civility.