<i>The US has a less than perfect record on the issue as well, with obscenity laws and the like.</i><p>To be fair, these laws have been consistently struck down by the Supreme Court.<p>That doesn't stop the government from continually passing similar laws and prosecuting people, however: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America_v._Extreme_Associates" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America_v._Ext...</a><p>The real problem here is not with obscenity, though, but the concept of plea bargains.  How many people will end up in prison because of unconstitutional laws before someone stands up against the oppressive regime?