Free speech and hate speech
- Submission status
- Open
- Submission deadline
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
The tension between the protection of individual freedom of expression and the prevention of harm to vulnerable groups lies at the heart of the debate over the boundaries between hate speech and mere free speech.
Historically, free speech emerged as a cornerstone of democratic societies during the Enlightenment period — the free exchange of ideas, even controversial ones, it was argued, was essential for social progress and the pursuit of truth. This underlying principle became enshrined in foundational documents such as the First Amendment to the US Constitution and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The concept of hate speech has more recent origins. In the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust there was widespread agreement and recognition in the international community that harmful rhetoric could contribute to discrimination and violence. This led many democracies, particularly in Europe, to establish hate speech laws.
The debate over the scope of free speech, and what constitutes hate speech, has intensified in recent years, driven by multiple factors including the increased dominance of social media and the rise of populism on the left and the right. Social media platforms in particular have created unprecedented opportunities for personal expression. This has led to new questions about content moderation, platform responsibility, and the role of technology in detecting perceived hateful or controversial speech.
Research is invited that explores the concepts of freedom of speech, and free speech and hate speech, including the grey areas that exist between. Scholarship is invited on all major areas of discussion, including but not limited to:
- Psychological and societal factors (e.g., political polarization and social cohesion)
- ‘Cancel culture’ and censorship
- Radicalisation and violence
- Technological and algorithmic approaches (e.g., content moderation) to enabling free speech/minimising hate speech
- Categories of protected and prohibited speech
- Legal frameworks and regulations
- Minority voices and social justice
- Solutions and policymaking (e.g., media literacy education, digital citizenship, community self-regulation)
- Democracy and representation
- Media ownership and press freedom
