Each theme contains useful resources for lawyers on freedom of expression, click below to get started.
An overview of the multi-faceted right to freedom of expression and how it is protected under international law.
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.
An overview of the ways in which access to the internet and online content are restricted around the world.
An overview of freedom of expression issues in the law, including how defamation is treated in domestic and international law.
An overview of the right to privacy, data protection, and protecting freedom of expression in a digital world.
Describes the different types of cybercrimes, tracks the trends, and evaluates how cybercrimes are dealt with in international law.
An overview of hate speech and how it is dealt with both under domestic and international law.
An overview of the ways in which access to content and freedom of expression online are restricted by private actors.
An overview of false news, misinformation and propaganda, including causes and potential solutions..
An overview of the various rights and concepts which encompass digital rights.
Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are vexatious and meritless legal action, often taken against journalists and human rights activists who have expressed a critical opinion. They are intended to distract from the reporting, intimidate and discourage them from voicing their opinions, and divert resources from public interest reporting to defending the abusive suits. SLAPPs…
Las acciones legales por difamación se utilizan con frecuencia para callar injustamente el disenso y la crítica legítima. Sin embargo, pueden también representar un mecanismo válido para proteger la reputación de aquellos perjudicados por declaraciones de otros.
A unanimous judgment from the South African Constitutional Court recognised a SLAPP defence as an existing form of abuse of process under South African law that did not call for a further development of the common law.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights found that the criminalisation of the dissemination “of an opinion article, about a matter of public interest referred to a public official” criminalised under defamation law was a violation of freedom of expression.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that the Argentinian state’s conviction of a journalist for criticising a judicial investigation was an unnecessary and disproportionate violation of freedom of expression, and ordered the state to reform the criminal laws protecting honour and reputation.
In an appeal of the 2019 High Court judgment, the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa ruled that the EFF had defamed a former politician but found that the High Court had incorrectly quantified the damages to be awarded.
The High Court of Kenya declared the offence of criminal defamation under section 194 of the Kenyan Penal Code to be unconstitutional.
The High Court of South Africa overturned a protection order granted by a Cape Town Magistrate’s Court that prevented a woman from speaking about her rape by her ex-boyfriend.
The South Gauteng High Court of South Africa held that statements made online alleging sexual violence committed by a well-known DJ were defamatory.
The Assistant Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Rouse Avenue District Courts, New Delhi dismissed a complaint of criminal defamation against a journalist for allegedly tarnishing the reputation of another journalist and politician by publishing accusations of sexual harassment in the wake of the #MeToo movement.