1 What is the “Brandenburg test” for protected speech? How is it different from the “clear and present danger” test?

1 The “brandenburg test” for protected speech is used to determine when/if speech that is intended to relay hate or create legal actions can be restricted. The “clear and present danger” test is when everyone agrees that there is an obvious danger happening in a place. They are different because the Brandenburg test can take action when someone voices a threat. 

2What is “stochastic terrorism”? 

2 Stochastic terrorism is when there is mass communications to get random actors to carry out violent acts that create fear or harm. 

3 How does “stochastic terrorism” make it difficult to apply the Brandenburg test to conspiracy theories?

3 Stochastic terrorism makes it difficult to apply the Brandenburg test because making false statesments isnt protected under the First Amendement. Also, there is not proof of intent to incite.

4 Using at least two quotes from the reading, write a paragraph or two explaining your view on whether conspiracy theory should be protected free speech.

I think that conspiracy theories could be protected free speech but only to a certain point. Since it may be very hard to determine where to draw the line of what is protected free speech and what is violence or a threat, I believe that conspiracy theories should not be protected free speech. I don’t think they should because even though not all conspiracy theories lead to violence, there is always a chance it will. “The use of mass communication to ‘incite random actors to carry out violent or terrorist acts that are statistically predictable but are individually unpredictable’” (Keller para 9). We can’t know for sure if a conspiracy is going to lead to violence or not.