Op-eds etc.
By Jacob Mchangama and Nadine Strossen The article argues that the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press, has historically been most important for marginalized and powerless groups in society. The author notes that wealthy and powerful individuals and institutions have always had the means […]
As Fox News faces a $1.6 billion lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems over false reporting, the legal principle of “actual malice” is under scrutiny. While some have called for the erosion of this protection for free speech, The Future of Free Speech Projects Senior Fellow @Jeff Kosseff argues that doing so would be a threat […]
Senior Fellow Jeff Kosseff on why old criminal defamation laws pose a danger to free speech in the digital age. “we’ve seen disturbing examples of charges filed against citizens who criticize local government officials on social media” access article
New Foreign Policy piece by Jacob Mchangama, this time with Nadine Strossen on Ron DeSantis, a Republican, who is expected by many to announce his candidacy for president in the coming weeks or months. DeSantis’s call to make it easier to sue the media for `false information’” is part of a larger Republican revolt against […]
Hamline University has received considerable backlash for not renewing the employment of a scholar who showed an allegedly “Islamophobic” image of the Prophet Muhammad during an art history class. The university did so, even though the adjunct professor gave ample warnings before and during the class that the image would be shown. According to an […]
By Jacob Mchangama For many Americans, social media has become a monster. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are seen as festering hotbeds of hate and misinformation that threaten the very foundations of American democracy and civility. Calls for regulation have intensified, with some prominent voices looking across the pond for a model to regulate […]
“In short, there is a compelling case to be made for why free speech should be strengthened, not weakened on social media. But the sceptics are unlikely to be persuaded by a conception of free speech based on partisan grievances and trolling. Instead, Musk should focus on demonstrating how the benefits of a more […]
British police are using a new law meant to curb Black Lives Matter and environment protests—to stop citizens from “disrespecting” the monarchy. “Who elected him?” Shouting these three words led to the arrest of Symon Hill, a British republican activist in Oxford at a coronation ceremony parade of (now) King Charles III. Hill was arrested (although later de-arrested, which is a […]
“Democracies must understand that, in the digital age, it’s impossible to effectively shield citizens from hostile propaganda and disinformation without compromising the egalitarian and liberal values of democracy.” Read the full piece by Jacob Mchangama
Introduction In May this year, the Fourth Section of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held unanimously that holding a lawyer in contempt of court for a ‘caustic’ and ‘sarcastic’ comments amounted to a violation of his Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) right to freedom of expression. Facts In […]