activeco - 11:43 pm on Nov 22, 2006 (gmt 0)

The laws related to "stirring up racial hatred" in the UK are laws carrying such penalties ..as are their counterparts in certain EU countries ..some of which already have the ( proposed ) laws about stirring up religious hatred etc ..

What's wrong with that?
Yes, there is a very concerning growth of supressing individual freedom in (Western) Europe but there is also a fully grown up new generation who can't differ between freedom of thought/expression and an insult.
They think they can spit around under the free speech excuses.

This Californian decision however promote freedom in a way of supporting rights of any "intermediary" such as an ISP, to transmit opinions/toughts and even insults, without immediately being liable for the information presented.
It is nice to see some common sense in this sombre time.
However, note that a website, forum, an individual or other internet entity does not have full immunity (rightly) from the common law, contrary to some opinions here and the original Msnbc's conclusion.
I think she (Mrs. Rosenthal) was obliged to remove the defamatory content if asked to do so.
Instead, SHE was sued for defamation.

Anyway, we still only need a fair and unbiased interpretation of the common law(s). Long way to go.