Rogan disgusted by number of Brits arrested over social media posts
Joe Rogan was visibly disgusted by the lack of free speech in the UK after revealing that more than 12,000 people are locked up each year for their social media posts.On an episode of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, released on February 4, the podcaster sat down with English comedian Andrew Doyle as they immediately began discussing woke ideology and the repercussions for Britons. 'More than 12,000 people have been arrested in the UK in the past year for social media posts,' said Rogan 'And if you read some of those social media posts, they're not even remotely terrifying.'The podcaster was referring to a statistic reported by The Times that found police were making more than 30 arrests a day for 'offensive' uploads under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988.Rogan explained how uploads that are non-threatening and are only criticizing topics such as immigration into the country, which lead to police officers arriving at their front doors.The crime of sending 'grossly offensive' messages or sharing content of an 'indecent, obscene or menacing character' on electronic communications networks is punishable by up to two years' imprisonment or an unlimited fine in the UK.Doyle told Rogan how he fears Americans will think the Brits are crazy over the lack of free speech in his country.The podcaster was quick to speak on behalf of Americans: 'We do. We do now. We think you've lost it.' Joe Rogan was visibly disgusted by the lack of free speech in the UK on an episode of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, released on February 4. The podcaster sat down with English comedian Andrew Doyle as they immediately began discussing woke ideology and the repercussions it has left for the Brits Doyle and Rogan discussed the lack of freedom as the Brit admired the First Amendment in the US. Rogan explained how he feels a shift in culture needs to happen before saying the only way people will call for radical change is if the situation becomes dramatically worse'We also think something happened where your leaders are intentionally trying to tank your country. It seems like they're trying to bring in as many migrants as possible. Cater to them, not to the British people, and do it openly so that everyone knows what they're doing and then create chaos on the streets because of it.'Doyle explained a phrase to Rogan he claimed is commonly used in his country: 'Anarcho-tyranny, you know, where you punish people who aren't breaking the law, but you protect those who are.'The Brit explained how these arrests have been going on for years, noting that the last time he saw Rogan in 2020, already 3,000 people had been arrested for 'grossly offensive speech'.'What does that even mean?' Asked Doyle. 'I find laws against free speech to be grossly offensive.'He went on to explain the 2022 incident of Darren Brady, a then-51-year-old Army veteran, who was arrested by Hampshire Police officers after he was told, 'causing anxiety' with a social media post.Brady had shared an image of four Pride flags arranged into a swastika, an image first shared by online provocateur Laurence Fox on X.In a viral video of his arrest at his home in Aldershot, he could be heard asking the three police officers: 'Why am I in cuffs?'One officer answered: 'Someone has caused anxiety based on your social media post.' He was later released with no further action taken. The comedian explained to Rogan the 2022 incident of Darren Brady, a then-51-year-old Army veteran, who was arrested by Hampshire Police officers after he was told, 'causing anxiety' with a social media post The tweet, originally by online provocateur Laurence Fox, showed four LGBT pride flags positioned to make a swastika, captioned with the words, 'Oh blessed and most holy month'After hearing the story, Rogan questioned how that could be offensive before he answered his own question: 'That's the problem. You could find anything offensive. You could find anything grossly offensive if you're extremely sensitive.'Doyle pointed out how the US has far more protections than the UK due to the First Amendment.'It's (First Amendment) very important, and it didn't seem important 20 years ago or 30 years ago,' said Rogan.Doyle made an observation that police routinely checking on people for committing offensive speech is arguably worse than the actual arrests.He added that, in Scotland, the Hate Crime and Public Order Act of 2024 allows people to be prosecuted for what they say in their own home.'So I think it's worse than just the arrest. I think it's a rotten system that is being trained by activists in the college of policing that no government will deal with,' said the Brit.Rogan noted that the culture has to shift before saying the only way people will call for radical change is if the situation becomes dramatically worse.
