Those in the fight against the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims are kind of like children paddling around in the deep end without floaties.
Despite violent protests against the film the world over, many of which have claimed the lives of US citizens, the fight to axe the film here at home keeps running into that pesky freedom of speech thing. Google (parent company to YouTube) refused to take down the 14-minute trailer that portrays Islam’s prophet Muhammad as an incompetent, juvenile womanizer and warlord because it doesn’t qualify as “hate speech” under their terms of service.
Recently, Cindy Lee Garcia (an actress who appeared in the YouTube trailer) filed a lawsuit against the filmmakers that demanded YouTube take down the film. The judge’s response? Not happening.
Judge Luis Lavin rejected Garcia’s request, in part because Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the man allegedly responsible for the film, had not been served a copy of her lawsuit yet.
Garcia is claiming emotional distress and professional damage from the YouTube trailer, which she says violates her privacy and makes her appear to be bigoted toward Muslims. Emotionally, I am very disturbed,” Garcia told the Associated Press. “My whole life has been turned upside down in every aspect. My family has been threatened.”
Google has blocked the film in some countries, despite refusing to take it down. Even this has proven controversial, as it has sparked a debate regarding the ethics of internet censorship.
