There's a lot of emphasis on the new CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) in the UK treating online "hate crimes" as equivalent to in-person crimes. But that's not the worst part.
How the CPS defines hate crime
The police and the CPS have agreed the following definition for identifying and flagging hate crimes:
"Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on a person's disability or perceived disability; race or perceived race; or religion or perceived religion; or sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation or a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender."
There is no legal definition of hostility so we use the everyday understanding of the word which includes ill-will, spite, contempt, prejudice, unfriendliness, antagonism, resentment and dislike.
... dislike.
Instead of having to determine the perpetrator's motive, the "victim" will be allowed to decide if a hate crime occured. Or any random third party. Based on the supposed motive of the perpetrator.
This isn't how criminal justice in any society that believes in basic standards of jurisprudence works. But while the left gives violent criminals a pass, in some areas it rigs the system so tightly that it's effectively a police state with no possibility of innocence for the accused.
Criminal activity becomes protected. And muggers, robbers and general category rapists (as opposed to campus offenders) become a protected class. Meanwhile some other classes of offenses are so tightly controlled that the verdict might as well automatically be guilty.
We acknowledge that people have a right to freedom of speech. It is essential in a free, democratic and tolerant society that people are able to exchange views, even when these may cause offence. However, we will balance the rights of an individual to freedom of speech and expression against the duty of the state to act proportionately in the interests of public safety, to prevent disorder and crime, and to protect the rights of others. Stirring up racial hatred, defined by reference to colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins is committed when someone says or does something which is threatening, abusive or insulting, and the person either intends to stir up racial hatred, or make it likely that racial hatred will be stirred up. It covers behaviour such as making a speech, posting material online, displaying a poster, performing a play or broadcasting on the media.
In other words, it covers free speech.
Let's zoom in.
We acknowledge that people have a right to freedom of speech. It is essential in a free, democratic and tolerant society that people are able to exchange views, even when these may cause offence..... Stirring up racial hatred, defined by reference to colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins is committed when someone says or does something which is... insulting,.. and the person either intends to stir up racial hatred, or make it likely that racial hatred will be stirred up. It covers behaviour such as making a speech...
Tell me about free speech again.
The guidelines for religious hatred are narrower than racial hatred. For now. We'll see how long that lasts.