s (“listservs”), “chat rooms,” or the “World Wide Web.” These different tools can be used to transmit text, sounds, pictures, or animated video images. The environment as a whole is commonly called the “cyberspace,” because it does not belong to a particular geographical location. It is “no exaggeration to conclude that the content on the Internet is as diverse as human thought,” said a District Court. Hence, the Internet is in itself, a “market place” of ideas, which concept was once adopted by the Supreme Court. An important difference between the Internet and broadcasting, for example is that users need to type the address of a known page or enter one or more keywords into a “search engine” to locate a site. This characteristic makes it a less intrusive medium than broadcasting, since users need to actually look for the information they want. The Web is like a large library where millions of publications are available. The problem however, is that anyone can become a publisher and use this huge platform to address a worldwide audience. This characteristic makes it easy for extremist groups, for instance, to safely propel their message to the entire world. It allows them to communicate with other bigots, to promote their doctrine and to recruit people, while remaining anonymous. These groups however, have the right to express their ideas, even if they are offensive. Litigation occurs when an individual targets or harasses someone else because of his/her race, religion, or sexual inclinations, for instance. “Real life” cases have set precedents that also apply to the “cyberspace,” as some online hate speech cases discussed below show it. While extremists have the right to create Web pages that contain offensive speech, users have means to deny them access to their homes. Indeed, filters and software are available f...
