Humour vs National Security

[Morbidity]

At what point do you think a joke is no longer funny b/c it threatens security?

Sydney has just had the dubious pleasure of hosting APEC. As part of that a group of comedians (whose show is on the ABC) pretended that they were the delegation from Canada, hired some cars and got through about 2 security check points. They were well and truly in the "secure zone" when they got out of the car dressed as Osama Bin Laden and the game was up ... also revealing that the millions spent on security for the visit was probably just a huge waste. The comedians involved are potentially facing 6 months gaol for this escapade.

Personally I think it was a great joke, but I'm curious are there other views? ... does anyone think that toying with national security in this manner is a serious offence.

Here's the link to an article on it, if anyone's interested.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/09/06/1188783415499.html

[The Winslow]

A bunch of comedians, including one disguised as an internationally-researched terrorist leader, manage to go through two security check points and enter a supposedly-secure zone. Let me tell you that when I say in my opinion these jokers deserve to face six months in jail, I'm not speaking about the comedians...

[Northcott]

It's one of those situations where I think that the comedians involved should have thought much more seriously about the consequences of their actions.

1) They made quite a show of pointing out how to get through security. This creates a dangerous precedent that others, perhaps with less humourous intentions, may follow.

2) They forced the hand of the authorities. The authorities obviously don't want the general public thinking that this kind of stunt can be pulled as a joke without incurring serious consequences. If the comedians are allowed to get off with little more than a handslap, it will very likely encourage copycat stunts, and then the danger factor increases rather dramatically as numbers provide cover for more ill-intentioned individuals.

The authorities really have no choice at this point but to hand out some kind of relatively serious punitive measure. If they fail to do so, they may well pay for it in the long term.

And these points are both without considering how allied nations will view it if Australia appears less than dead serious about its security measures in such situations.


Much like civil disobedience, if you're going to fuck with the law to make a point (or get a laugh), you'd best be ready to suck it up and take the consequences when they come down the pike.

[Utrecht]

As Northcutt said, do the crime, pay the time - sure they were being funny - but statements like this

Last night the ABC said the Chaser team had no intention of entering the restricted zone and did not know they had done so until they were detained while turning around.

make me doubt their sincerity.

Helga, it is impossible to know how many of the layers of security they breached based off of the articles information (they did was get past 2 police checkpoints - and that is understandable given the fact that they were flying diplomatic colors - but how many more would the need to peice before they could have done harm) - so I would reserve your disdain until more information was known.

[TiQuinn]

You know what would've been really funny? If one of the snipers shot him! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. That would be SO cool.

[Snatch]

...and that is understandable given the fact that they were flying diplomatic colors...

Wouldn't that in itself be against the law? I have to believe there's some type of prohibition against impersonating a foreign diplomat.

[Utrecht]

Wouldn't that in itself be against the law? I have to believe there's some type of prohibition against impersonating a foreign diplomat.


Oh, it very much is - and which is likely what they are getting charged with.

and it also limits how much a "simple" police man can stop and inspect a diplomatic mission (imagine if some Chinese policman stopped say, the UK mission in China - for "security reasons" there would be some "diplomatic" words between the two)

However, if the car did not have diplomatic plates - then the Police likely dropped the ball.

[Snatch]

However, if the car did not have diplomatic plates - then the Police likely dropped the ball.

I'm guessing the truth as a little bit from column A and a little bit from column B.

[Utrecht]

What, you mean the world is grey? perish the thought!!!!

Oh, and I agree with you.

[Janos]

They also did something of a service by pointing out some security holes that need to be fixed. That's balanced by the damage of trust in the government's ability to maintain safety.

I think the joke went too far. They do need to do something to show that this isn't okay, but I don't know that these guys really need to do jail time. I'd be in favor of some hefty community service work done publically (assuming Australia has community service sentances, I'm not sure).

[PWD]

The real joke is the security, apparently. Having said that, they broke the rules, charge them with what you can. Then chase down the problematic security mechanisms and who slacked, and deal with them too.

[Morbidity]

The Chaser to me is good humour b/c they are walking a line and thus every so often they fall over the wrong side of it. I’m not certain which side of it they were on this time. On one side, the entirety of Sydney thought the level of APEC security was way over the top and therefore is chuckling at some comedians exposing it for the fraud it was. On the other side, I’m somewhat embarrassed that the security was exposed in this way to an international audience. I guess when they started the stunt they had no idea how far they’d actually get.

Regarding the Chaser’s statement that they never intended to actually enter the secure zone, I’m not sure how much I believe it and how much I think it was thought up by the poor lawyers at the ABC whose job it is to defend them.

It will be interesting to see what happens when they end up in court.

They are not being charged with impersonating diplomats but with entering a “secure zone” without justification. We had a whole raft of new “security” legislation passed for the purpose of giving police more powers during APEC. Some of these powers I find quite disturbing at the loss of civil liberties that they imply.

[bunny]

They also did something of a service by pointing out some security holes that need to be fixed. That's balanced by the damage of trust in the government's ability to maintain safety.

I think the joke went too far. They do need to do something to show that this isn't okay, but I don't know that these guys really need to do jail time. I'd be in favor of some hefty community service work done publically (assuming Australia has community service sentances, I'm not sure).

I guess there's truth to the phrase: "If you're gonna tell the truth, you had better make them laugh."

[Martin]

I don't really watch The Chaser, but not out of opinion, but that I generally don't watch television on television.

I think that they screwed up. Like I told my wife when she told me about it, they're lucky that the guy dressed like Bin Laden didn't get shot. While I can see the humor in it, I'm of the opinion that it was one of those things where common sense should have applied. If there are consequences to be paid for that, then I'm afraid that they'll have to pay them.

On the flip side, I'm surprised that anyone was able to effectively get away with eroding civil liberties in Sydney. So many people around here get worked up about their civil liberties and how they're being imposed upon around here it's not even funny. I once had an intoxicated man (a self confessed civil libertarian) tell me that I had too much power because I wouldn't allow him to enter a licensed area. Hell, the corporation I work for has shown a disinclination to adopt methods that would be both safer and more effective than their current ones due to the fact that they're afraid that civil libertarians will get up in arms over it. (Although, as those of you who know where I work well know, the corporation I work for is often in the news much to their displeasure.)

[EhtoZed]

Maybe this should be a bootable offense?

[Janos]

I guess there's truth to the phrase: "If you're gonna tell the truth, you had better make them laugh."

I don't know that it should get them out of legal trouble, but it does remove my outrage very effectively.