Today, in 21st century internet is giving us variety of opportunities to express our opinions and say whatever that we want and we need. On the internet we have a lot of freedom to express ourselves. Most of the tools that we use for freedom of speech on the internet are the social media.
Individuals and also many non-profit organizations are using the freedom of speech on the internet to express their opinions and feelings about certain things that are connected with the work of the government or other institutions. According to the United Nations Special Reporters on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, internet is the place where individuals or groups are seeking and receiving information and ideas for all kind of fields that they are interesting in. In almost every country in the world, freedom of speech on the internet it is not forbidden. You can write and tell everything that you want, because internet is actually the public place where the human rights are respected.
In Indian Constitution, the right to freedom and expression is given in articles 19, 20, 21 and 22.
However, the internet is a place for developing the economic, social or political progress of one country so sometimes you can find places where the freedom of speech on the internet is limited.
For example, in North Korea the freedom of speech on the Internet is limited. People there cannot use social media to express their feelings and opinions. Also, the information on the Internet is also limited and if you go there you cannot use some website where will give you the information that you need.
Sometimes the freedom of speech on the Internet can cause many protests and negative opinions for some governments. In this modern time where technology is so develop, people are planning protests on the Internet. Internet is a platform where you can learn about the economy or politic in your country and set up your own opinion about these things.
Free speech on the Internet is a fundamental right in almost every country. For example, in the United States of America, the Congress is not making a low to limit the freedom of speech in a public place or of the press. It is the same for freedom on the Internet. We all know that Internet sometimes can be a critical place especially for children. There are many conducts that are ethical and it’s up to the welling of people who use the Internet space if they will respect those ethical conducts or not.
In many cases, freedom of speech on the Internet is bringing people together from all over the world. If there are some crises in the world, people are connecting each other through the Internet and with their freedom to write and say whatever it is on their mind, they can even make a revolution. If there are some issues that they care about, usually people are using internet to organize some protests or events and act in defense of their freedom of speech.
The fight for freedom of speech on the internet is still going on. Everyday people are fighting even for new generations to use their rights in the future and to say whatever they want even if that it’s only on the Internet space.
