Sure - it might work well. But isn't it against the law to publicly spread false information that affect someone's business? Whether it's the city, or a random person, I would expect the same rules to apply - and I would expect to get sued if I started putting "cancelled" stickers on all posters. Two wrongs do not make a right...
But isn't it against the law to publicly spread false information that affect someone's business?
Not if the city of Ghent has effected a bylaw for this specific practice. When you're part of "the state", you can do that.
It's against the law to clamp a motor vehicle you don't own, yet the council can still come along and clamp you if you don't buy a ticket in their car parks. Punishments aren't typically illegal if you violated the rules effecting that punishment. After all, it's illegal to murder people, yet the majority of US states have provisions for execution as a form of punishment.
But it's a catch-22 situation. They would have to incriminate themselves to file a lawsuit. Or if they make the argument that they weren't responsible for the poster being put up, the local government can make the same claim. "I didn't see who put it up there, so it's not my responsibility".
Part of it's brilliance is how easily defensible it is.
Not sure about "easily defensible". If the city doesn't do it legally (as in police can quickly verify who is doing that), then:
1. Person A puts up a lot of posters in an obviously illegal area where other posters are quickly "cancelled".
2. "Completely unrelated" person B waits for the person adding the "cancelled" stickers, notifies the police about suspected behaviour. For more fun mentions "strange equipement" and "patroling the area for a long time". Bonus points for doing that near/on a government building.
Making it risky for other people to put the "cancelled" stickers would force the city to either stop this, or make it legal and well known.
Edit: I assumed it was US - not sure how easy it is to scare police in Belgium with suspected "terrorism".
