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Brazil and the United States have long revered the ideal of the freedom of citizens to express their opinions freely, without fear of reprisals or vilification. At the same time, both of these societies have experienced rising levels of polarization and intolerance. Freedom of expression has come to embrace the freedom to incite violence, to promote racial animosity, and to shame and to vilify one´s political opponents through spreading malicious falsehoods.
The weaponization of the internet has given such noxious free speech a much greater degree of power to influence others. In response, some media companies (such as Twitter and Facebook) have responded with their own policies to curb freedom of expression when such expression is deemed to be harmful to the public good, but their actions are not always consistent and verge on censorship. These media companies cannot act with the authority and legitimacy of elected governments.
The purpose of this Webinar is to expand the debate in the areas of freedom of expression, combating censorship, and building practical alternatives that allow and generate greater freedom of speech. It seeks to respond to the question: how and when should free societies place limits on freedom of expression without undermining freedom itself?
Panelists
Jamel Green, Dwight Professor of Law, Columbia Law School
Patricia Campos Mello, Journalist, Research Associate at Columbia University
Ronaldo Lemos, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
with Thomas Trebat, Director, Columbia Global Centers | Rio
