Is it legal to provide 'How To' video instructions (i.e. youtube) for illegal activites (e.g. stealing cable)?

Question

more examples:

shoplifting
make 'bump keys'
make bombs
making your own fake id's
etc.

is it illegal to provide instruction, or could you be held liable? or would you just have to but up a warning to say you don't condone illegal behavior, but then post a 'how to anyway'?
would you have to be more specific and post a legal code saying im entitled to post? whats the story?

Answer 1

Yes, it is generally illegal.

The producer could be charged with criminal solicitation -- that is, encouraging others to commit a crime.

The producer could also be charged as an accomplice (same as the actual criminal) if it was shown that the video provided material support for the commission of the crime.

The disclaimer may or may not help, depending on the laws of the relevant jurisdiction, and how the material is presented.

Answer 2

I am of the opinion that your question has a logical fallacy. It is only Christians and their haters who propose that the USA is a Christian Nation (aka a nation for/of/and by Christians). I have read the US Constitution several times, and have yet to see the nation defined as a Christian one. While many of the founders of the USA were Christians, they also understood the problems that come from religious persecution. Thus they created a nation where religious freedom was a guaranteed right in the Bill of Rights. They intentionally did not specify which religion people were free to follow. As far as combatants engaged in acts of terrorism without the benefit of a uniform. The Geneva Convention holds no protections for those individuals. They are entitled to a bullet in the head if the military force engaging them so chooses in order to discourage military forces from fighting from within a civilian population. The detainment and interrogation of illegal combatants captured violating the Geneva Convention rules of warfare is a relatively merciful act in comparison. It could be worse, such as for example, general population in a typical medium security US prison. I hope this helps.