Taking a Stand

BBC Radio 4, News and Current Affairs -- Taking a Stand, 15/01/08,

A father was lobbying the reform of UK national law regarding internet crime, so that people who are encouraging others to suicide themselves through internet will face prosecution.

The 18 years old teenager Paul Kelly killed himself when his parents went on holiday to Canada, he was preparing to die for couple of months --searching online to find out the way to kill himself.

After his death, police discovered within these couple of months, he regularly visited an American website, which own a chatroom for people who are asking help for how to suicide. The chatroom is only for people who has this kind of desire, and normally they do not accept stranger to log on their chatroom.

Paul discussed with his "fellow" to get information of suicide, and the lady who is managing this chatroom did not interfere his action.

Paul's father argued that for those who providing suicide information,in another word, to teach and encourage his son to kill himself should face prosecution. However, peole who are meeting online do not have face-to-face contact, therefore, they cannot be taken into court.

Should the British legal system reform the Internet law?!? Is it fair that people can do anything they want on Internet!?!

How should we protect people's freedom of speech, in the meantime, do not infringe other's human rights? While other countries are facing criticizm of Internet censorship, where is the balance point to speak freely, as well as to speak properly online?!?