Freedom of expression
An overview of the multi-faceted right to freedom of expression and how it is protected under international law.
Browse by theme
Each theme contains useful resources for lawyers on freedom of expression, click below to get started.
Digital rights
Understanding digital rights is crucial to protecting human rights, as little of our lives today is immune from the forces of technology and the internet.
Restricting Internet access & online content
An overview of the ways in which access to the internet and online content are restricted around the world.
Defamation & reputation
An overview of freedom of expression issues in the law, including how defamation is treated in domestic and international law.
Privacy, security & data protection
An overview of the right to privacy, data protection, and protecting freedom of expression in a digital world.
Cybercrimes
Describes the different types of cybercrimes, tracks the trends, and evaluates how cybercrimes are dealt with in international law.
Hate speech
An overview of hate speech and how it is dealt with both under domestic and international law.
Censorship by private actors
An overview of the ways in which access to content and freedom of expression online are restricted by private actors.
False news, misinformation & propaganda
An overview of false news, misinformation and propaganda, including causes and potential solutions..
Litigating freedom of expression
An overview of the various rights and concepts which encompass digital rights.
Browse resource library
results found
Filter by
Close filters
results found
Kharitonov v Russia (2020)
The European Court of Human Rights held that the blocking of a website as a consequence of a blocking order against another website which had the same IP address was a violation of the right to freedom of expression and information.
Summary Module 6: Hate Speech (sub-Saharan Africa)
It is important to find the right balance between speech that is offensive, yet important for freedom of expression and dissent, and speech which constitutes impermissible hate speech.
Explaining the Issues: Sedition
While it’s rare to be prosecuted for it in western democracies, this blog explains how authoritarian governments frequently use old colonial sedition laws to silence criticism.
Media Rights Agenda v Nigeria (2000)
The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights found that Nigeria’s incarceration of an editor allegedly for participating in threats to national security was a violation of his rights.
Hurbain v Belgium (2021)
The European Court of Human Rights (Third Section) held that an order enforcing the right to be forgotten of a person involved in a road accident through anonymisation did not breach the publisher’s freedom of expression.
New York Times Co. v United States (1971)
The United States Supreme Court rejected a request for prior restraint on the basis that it may only be allowed in extreme circumstances, and that ‘security’ could not be provided by guarding state secrets at the expense of informed representative government.
María Belén Rodriguez v Google (2014)
The Supreme Court of Argentina held that search engines are under no duty to monitor the legality of third-party content to which they link, and only in exceptional circumstances could they be required to disable access.
State Controlled Media Regulation is a Threat to Press Freedom: Media Defence Files an Amicus Brief to European Court of Human Rights
Media Defence Training Manual on Litigation and Freedom of Expression in West Africa
To help equip lawyers to promote freedom of expression we are sharing our West Africa Regional Mechanisms Training Manual which provides tools and advice on litigating in defence of freedom of expression in West Africa.