The UK government’s Commission for Countering Extremism commissioned Jacob Mchangama to contribute a piece to a collection of essays called “Countering extremism: defending free speech.” Jacob’s contribution was called, “From safety valve to pressure cooker: when silencing speech fuels extremism.” Read an excerpt below: Introduction: Free Expression as a Safety Valve In 1964, Nelson Mandela […]
In Hate Speech and the European Court of Human Rights, Natalie Alkiviadou argues that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) should reconsider its approach to hate speech cases and develop a robust protection of freedom of expression as set out in the benchmark case of Handyside v the United Kingdom. In that case, the […]
By Alexander Hohlfeld In her speech at the 2024 Copenhagen Democracy Summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen argued that Europe should not “fight the authoritarians or the extremes at their own game,” but instead “fight them by offering a positive vision of the future” that “protects what we hold dear – our democracy and our […]
Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media, the critically acclaimed book by Jacob Mchangama, has returned in a new paperback edition. Originally released in 2022, this celebrated work is hailed as “the best history of free speech ever written” by P.J. O’Rourke and called “smart, insightful, and astute” by the Los Angeles Review of […]
THE FUTURE OF FREE SPEECH INDEX 2025 The Future of Free Speech Index is a composite measure based on answers to eight questions about the willingness to allow controversial speech, criticism of the government, media freedom, and an open Internet. Executive Summary Free speech is a cornerstone of democracy, a fundamental right that empowers individuals […]
By Joan Barata From Eric Heinze, Natalie Alkiviadou, Tom Herrenberg, Sejal Parmar and Ioanna Tourkochoriti (eds) The Oxford Handbook of Hate Speech, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024-25 Abstract The contemporary challenges to freedom of expression are multifaceted and complex, with traditional regulatory frameworks being stretched by new dynamics in the digital realm. This paper explores […]
By Joan Barata Introduction The right to information is a fundamental right that encompasses two main aspects: a) the positive obligation of the public (and some private) bodies to provide, publish, and disseminate information about their main activities, budgets, policies, and plans, and b) the right of all persons to ask public officials for information […]
By Natalie Alkiviadou Abstract This article explores the evolution of Article 17 of the European Convention on Human Rights from its inception as a safeguard against totalitarian regimes to its contemporary application in the suppression of hate speech. The formulation of key issues around the paper’s discussion is prompted by the 2023 case of Lenis […]
Download the report Executive Summary The global landscape for freedom of expression has faced severe challenges in 2023. Even open democracies have implemented restrictive measures. The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) exemplifies this trend, the European Commission’s aggressive enforcement of which has raised concerns among rights groups. The Commission demands the removal of content classified […]
Access article By Natalie Alkiviadou Accepted: 13 October 2023 Abstract In 2023, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights issued its ruling in the case of Sanchez v France. The case revolved around the conviction of the applicant, a politician, for inciting hatred or violence against people due to their religious affiliation. […]