The government has denied wanting to suppress online freedom of expression, but it has long voiced concern about the influence of Internet rumors. Officials blamed online demagogues in part for huge protests last summer against U.S. beef imports that paralyzed the government for weeks.
I have no doubt that with the growing popularity of economics blogs and alternative opinion sources that some bloggers could become active forces in swaying public opinion, but is that a bad thing and should it be against the law to spread 'rumors' about the government? Luckily the court found the latter question's answer to be "no".
