I guess with all platforms that facilitate and encourage people to lobby or debate on public issues, there is the risk that some people with certain ‘niche’ views will use those platforms to promote hostile causes.

When Tony Blair’s office launched the No. 10 web petitions platform in 2006, one petition in particular caused a storm about the government’s plans for road pricing reforms in the UK. More than 2,000,000 people signed up to that petition, and it forced the government to respond on the issue. Since then, the petitions platform has hosted hundreds of petitions on various subjects, from banning to the use of all private cars to changing London’s 2012 olympic logo.

One No. 10 petition was in the news today (July 17th). More than 250,000 people have signed a petition to stop the building of a large mosque in a predominantly Muslim area of East London. The petition leaders say that should these plans go ahead, the mosque ‘will only cause terrible violence and suffering’, a claim which is refuted by the group who is building it.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said the petition was part of a “vicious” campaign to spread untruths about the scheme.

I guess one of the prices of freedom of speech is allowing people with these hostile views to have their say also.