Social media's double-edged sword : freedom of expression versus hate speech

Abstract

Social media platforms have become an imperative part of modern life, allowing people to convey not only their thoughts but also exercise their right to freedom of expression. International human rights laws espouse the right to freedom of thought and expression for everyone. However, many countries, under certain circumstances, have laws that restrict or outrightly ban social media expression, particularly of a type that is deemed to incite hatred and violence. Just as all eyes are meant to see, speech is meant to be heard and words are meant to be written, but it must also be prudently balanced with the right to equality and dignity. The need to balance the recurrent overlap between freedom of expression and what is perceived as hate speech creates a crucial question; where do we establish a boundary between legitimate expression and harmful speech? This analysis focuses on the legal frameworks, policies, and approaches to strike a balance between protecting freedom of expression and addressing potential social harms (being hate speech) on these platforms.