Judge Napolitano: Google Is Defending Freedom, While White House Plays Politics

The anti-Islamic film that sparked protests across the world has now been blocked by Google in some countries including Indonesia and Egypt. Google seems to have rejected the White House’s suggestion to review their decision to keep the video online. Megyn Kelly asked Judge Andrew Napolitano about the First Amendment issues this raises.

One effect the judge says this could have is what the courts call ‘chilling.’ He explained that this is in direct violation of the First Amendment since the government is not permitted to “chill” speech or deter people from the free exercise of their speech, simply because it doesn’t like the speech or in this case the reaction to the speech.

Judge Napolitano said, “For the White House, taking this down would be a quick and down and dirty solution

to it. The reason I say down and dirty is because that the solution for bad speech, hate speech […] is not censorship, it’s more speech. But censorship is a lot easier for the White House.”

In his own opinion, Judge Napolitano said he’s very happy Google didn’t remove the video, not because he wants to see the riots that have broken out, but rather, “mature and intelligent people should be able to view this thing and decide for themselves whether it is truly the cause of these riots or whether it is a pretext for the cause of these riots.”

Having watched the 13 minute trailer online, the judge said it’s hard to believe that it could inspire the uproar and violence that is has, “but the administration wants us to believe that it’s not the administration’s policies that have generated this behavior, it’s this one idiotic piece of so-called film, which has been out there for two months.”

Judge Napolitano added, “Google exists to return money to its shareholders, but occasionally, it defends freedom. And by not taking this down, it is defending freedom.”