This article will be discussing the emerging issues faced with free expression through private internet companies, governments and policymakers, third party research and civil society, as well as the media and news industry – and what can be done to protect free speech through each of them.

Private Internet Companies

Facebook’s home screen casually requests you send out your innermost thoughts, without meaning it. From internet providers to social media, privately owned organizations, the owners of these online spaces are not only responsible for hosting platforms – they also set rules for them.

Social media platforms have been said to exist to, ..”.facilitate public participation in art, politics, and culture.” Their benefit is that they can create safe digital spaces for people to speak freely and congregate digitally. What makes the internet a space safe for someone, might discourage another user’s freedom of expression. It gets tricky.

Drawbacks include: finding yourself censored, banned, suspended, muted, shadow banned, or even IP banned for life if you do not comply with the rules. To avoid this happening it’s the user’s responsibility to familiarize oneself with guidelines when using media platforms. This can again stifle free speech by limiting what one can say through rules – although these are privately owned companies who set their own rules. Bias exists and is unavoidable currently because of this.

Internet users also have the choice and option of which platforms to use, if any at all.

It is essential that some areas of the internet allow freedom of expression, such as WordPress. While there has been great censorship over the internet in recent years, some still believe controversial sites should continue to exist online.

Policymaking & Government

Benefit: protecting civilians and reinforcing rights

Drawback: free expression can be restricted by government or policymakers

This excellent article by Gene Policinski will walk you through the exact moments up until free speech was no longer protected for events of January 6. The First Amendment reaches a limit and this article clearly outlines this. There are often attempts to pass bills which restrict free expression.

This article, posted on 2/22/22 by Billy Binion wrote about a bill that was brought forth to make it illegal to film a police officer within 8 feet, but this was deemed unconstitutional.

Research & Civil Society

Benefit: third party researchers are able to stand independently. They are separate groups from government or social media companies who may have agendas.

Drawback: it is unclear the power or weight, studies and research can be done but what does it do and how does it help?

Media & News Industry

Journalists are essential. Journalism is also unfortunately a dangerous job position. The media and news industry is what keeps the public informed. News sites are trustworthy comparatively social media posts that may be purposefully misleading. The public benefits by being informed.

The public benefits from the media, but at the same time has concerns regarding media bias and selective reporting. With misinformation, sensationalism, and disinformation, the public struggles to trust the media. Some sites have been created to combat these issues:

• Verify This
• Rumor Guard
• Media Bias / Fact Check