Doctrine of guilt by association conveys that a person can be held responsible for the actions or beliefs of another person or group with whom they are associated.
This can occur even if the individual in question did not personally engage in the objectionable behavior or hold the same beliefs as the group they are associated with.
In legal contexts, the doctrine of guilt by association is generally not recognized as a valid basis for assigning criminal responsibility.
In social and political contexts, guilt by association can still be used as a form of criticism or condemnation.
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