Technology enables effective communication like never before. However, technology can also become a tool of censorship, control, spread of misinformation or hate. Thus, technology impacts freedom of expression.
The internet has enabled us to reach out to people we know, to find new connections, to formulate and spread our views, and to come together to exercise our rights as participants in democracy. Nowadays, such democratic processes as protests or elections are likely to involve the internet.
All these actions are related to our freedom of expression. Thus, it is important that freedom of expression is both protected and respected online. In turn, because of the importance of freedom of expression, non-democratic states or governments may want to unlawfully interfere with this. This can include instances of:
- content censorship
- internet shutdowns
- spreading of misinformation and disinformation
- spreading of or lack of protection from hate speech
- harassment
Freedom of expression
Freedom of expression enables all people to hold diverse opinions and express them, to obtain information, as well as to communicate information and ideas without interference from public authorities. Moreso, it is a key tool for the media and wider society to hold the State, its institutions, and politicians accountable for their actions.
Read more about freedom of expression in this Guide.
About this section
This section describes how the internet helps the spread of ideas and how public authorities may use it to limit the exercise of human rights.
Read more about privacy and data protection and how technology should respect privacy in this Guide.