Free Speech

Freedom of speech is integral to a healthy democracy, fostering diverse perspectives and open public discourse. However, this freedom comes with immense challenges, particularly on the internet and social media, where the proliferation of disinformation, hate speech, and violent content can cause significant harm. Countering these negative aspects without infringing on legitimate expression poses a complex challenge for governments. In the past, policymakers have afforded social media companies and other platforms significant legal protection from the harmful impacts of speech posted by their users while giving them discretion to make content moderation decisions. Increasingly, governments are re-examining that framework, enacting laws that impose greater requirements on platforms to police unlawful and harmful content or, in some cases, the opposite, laws that restrict the ability of platforms to moderate certain kinds of speech. These new laws may fundamentally reshape what speech looks like on the internet and test whether governments can limit the worst abuses of free speech without stifling the robust exchange of ideas that define a healthy democratic society.