Insult Laws: Insulting to Press Freedom
Insult Laws: Insulting to Press Freedom
A Guide to Evolution of Insult Laws in 2010
Internet Freedom
The internet is a crucial medium through which people can express themselves and share ideas and has become an increasingly important tool through which democracy and human rights activists mobilize and advocate for political, social, and economic reform. Fearing the power of the new technologies, authoritarian states have devised subtle and not-so-subtle ways to filter, monitor, and otherwise obstruct or manipulate the openness of the internet. Even a number of democratic states have considered or implemented various restrictions in response to the potential legal, economic, and security challenges raised by new media. Responding to these challenges, Freedom House conducts research and produces analysis on levels of internet freedom, conducts advocacy domestically and internationally to protect internet freedom, and conducts an array of programs designed to assist human rights and democracy activists safely use the internet for mobilizing their constituents and communicating their ideas.
Research & Reports
License to Censor: The Use of Media Regulation to Restrict Press Freedom
Regulation has become one of the most common and pernicious tools used to restrict media freedom around the world, even as the broadcast sector has opened dramatically in recent years in a number of countries and regions. Striking the balance between the public’s right to freedom of expression and the state’s obligation to protect their citizens from violence continues to be a serious challenge amid the explosive growth of terrestrial, satellite and digital media. This report explores issues of government oversight, self-regulatory bodies, and licensing that continue to plague governments and free speech advocates whose interests often seem diametrically opposed. Through in-depth country studies and an examination of recent cases in a range of media environments where media regulation poses a threat to media diversity and freedom, this report offers several cautionary examples as well as recommendations for reform.
Programs
