This attitude is displayed in the results of two recent studies that addressed the value and level of support people place on free expression. Americans are also more tolerant of offensive speech than people in most other nations. In the U.S., freedom of speech includes the right to engage in symbolic speech, to use certain offensive words and phrases to convey political messages, to advertise commercial products and professional services (with some restrictions), and the right to not speak (specifically, the right to not salute the flag) if one so desires. Constitution: “Congress shall make no law… abridging freedom of speech.” Freedom of speech is a fundamental principle in the U.S., protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. 79Īlthough the above study makes clear that freedom of expression in America has room to improve, Americans are among the world's most supportive citizens with regard to free speech-even if it criticizes the government or supports an unpopular opinion-freedom of the press, and the right to use the internet without government censorship. Australia, Germany, Jamaica, United Kingdom.Argentina, Austria, Ireland, Norway.Top 30 Countries with the Most Freedom of Speech/Expression (GSDI 2020): ![]() The top 30 scores from 2020 make up the list below, and the full scoresheet appears in the table further down this page. These metrics are then combined into a single value ranging from a low of 0.00 to a high of 1.00. ![]() The GSDI includes eight indicators centered around free expression, including whether the government censors the media, whether the expression of one's personal culture is repressed, and whether both men and women feel comfortable expressing themselves in public. The Global State of Democracy Indices is a database, maintained by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, which tracks 116 indicators related to democratic freedom in 165 countries. Particularly in the age of social media, when freedom of speech can be viewed as permission to spread damaging misinformation, bully others, and promote hate and intolerance, concerns have arisen over whether free speech can sometimes cause more harm than good. An ongoing debate exists about where to draw the line between free expression and offensive, threatening, or harmful content. Freedom of speech is protected in many of the freest countries in the world but is often restricted in totalitarian countries, communist countries, fascist countries, and dictatorships. In practice, however, some countries protect free speech, some deprioritize it, and some outright suppress it. To reflect this broader definition, freedom of speech is often referred to as freedom of expression.įreedom of speech is a right preserved in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and formally granted by the laws of most nations. ![]() Despite its name, freedom of speech is not specifically limited to verbal communication-rather, it also includes other forms of expression, such as written communication, social media posts (facebook, TikTok, YouTube), the arts (photography, stage plays, musical performances, painting, dance), personal actions (political protests, flag burning), and so on. Freedom of speech is the right for an individual or community to express any opinions without censorship or restraint and without fear of retaliation or legal sanction.
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