Iceland aims to become an offshore haven for journalists and leakers

Don · Feb 13, 2010

On Tuesday, the Icelandic parliament is expected to introduce a measure aimed at making the country an international center for investigative journalism publishing, by passing the strongest combination of source protection, freedom of speech, and libel-tourism prevention laws in the world.

Supporters of the proposal say the move would make Iceland an “offshore publishing center” for free speech, analogous to the offshore financial havens that allow corporations to hide capital from authorities.

Full story here.

A blow for individual rights? An interesting aspect of globalization? Free-market competition between nation-states? What other guarantees of freedom might a nation offer as relocation incentives?

Zoombie · Feb 13, 2010

I like the idea!

MattW · Feb 13, 2010

Which forward thinking country will be the fist to corner the market on the "Right to Blow Myself Up" crowd?

Zoombie · Feb 13, 2010

Well, I'm fine with blowing yourself up. Just so long as you do it in an enclosed space several miles away from city limits.

StephanieFox · Feb 13, 2010

I've been to Iceland and thought it was a great place even tho' I'm about a foot shorter than most of the people there. The winters are milder than in the Twin Cities, too. I'd lose weight, too since food is too expensive to afford.

Any advance for freedom of the press is OK with me.

Dommo · Feb 13, 2010

I'm ok with advancing freedom of the press, as long as people who say things are accountable for what they say. In other words, if you spew bullshit about me, you better be able to back it up, or else face a lawsuit for libel.

Death Wizard · Feb 13, 2010

Dommo said:
I'm ok with advancing freedom of the press, as long as people who say things are accountable for what they say. In other words, if you spew bullshit about me, you better be able to back it up, or else face a lawsuit for libel.

Backing it up is what the media has been about since the U.S. came into being. Without the media, the U.S. would be nothing.

Cranky · Feb 13, 2010

deathwizard said:
Backing it up is what the media has been about since the U.S. came into being. Without the media, the U.S. would be nothing.

Except this story is out of Iceland, not the U.S.

Death Wizard · Feb 13, 2010

Cranky said:
Except this story is out of Iceland, not the U.S.

I know. But I sense it creeping toward media bashing.

Shadow_Ferret · Feb 13, 2010

Death Wizard · Feb 13, 2010

Shadow_Ferret said:

What is that little guy holding in his hand?

Zoombie · Feb 13, 2010

Its called...a THUMB!

I think they're going to revolutionize the marketplace.

Death Wizard · Feb 13, 2010

Zoombie said:
Its called...a THUMB!

I think they're going to revolutionize the marketplace.

That's a damn impressive thumb! Reminds me of the billboards advertising "massage therapy" on the interstate.

thothguard51 · Feb 13, 2010

I hope this goes better than their banking and investment deals went...

Rufus Coppertop · Feb 13, 2010

MattW said:
Which forward thinking country will be the fist to corner the market on the "Right to Blow Myself Up" crowd?

There might be one in the Middle East.

Iceland aims to become an offshore haven for journalists and leakers

Don

All Living is Local

Zoombie

Dragon of the Multiverse

MattW

Company Man

Zoombie

Dragon of the Multiverse

StephanieFox

Maybull the Bulldog

Dommo

On Mac's double secret probation.

Death Wizard

Tumhe na koci puujetha

Cranky

Death Wizard

Tumhe na koci puujetha

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Death Wizard

Tumhe na koci puujetha

Zoombie

Dragon of the Multiverse

Death Wizard

Tumhe na koci puujetha

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

Rufus Coppertop