What are the rules for freedom of expression?
Asked by: Alyce Johnston | Last update: October 10, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (65 votes)
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the freedom of speech, religion and the press. It also protects the freedom to peacefully assemble or gather together or associate with a group of people for social, economic, political or religious purposes, as well as the right to protest the government.
What are the limits of freedom of expression?
The main such categories are incitement, defamation, fraud, obscenity, child pornography, fighting words, and threats.
What is the UK law on freedom of expression?
Article 10 Freedom of expression
This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This Article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.
What are the principles of freedom of expression?
Freedom of expression and information, including the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other form of communication, including across frontiers, is a fundamental and inalienable human right and an indispensable component of ...
What are the 6 freedoms of expression?
The words of the First Amendment itself establish six rights: (1) the right to be free from governmental establishment of religion (the “Establishment Clause”), (2) the right to be free from governmental interference with the practice of religion (the “Free Exercise Clause”), (3) the right to free speech, (4) the right ...
Freedom of Expression explained (explainity® explainer video)
What free speech is not protected?
The following speech may not be protected: Speech that is intended and likely to provoke imminent unlawful action (“incitement”). Statements where the speaker means to communicate a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals (“true threats”).
What are the human rights to freedom of expression?
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Article 20 (1) states ...
What are the laws limiting freedom of speech?
Categories of speech that are given lesser or no protection by the First Amendment (and therefore may be restricted) include obscenity, fraud, child pornography, speech integral to illegal conduct, speech that incites imminent lawless action, speech that violates intellectual property law, true threats, false ...
What is meant by hate speech?
In common language, “hate speech” refers to offensive discourse targeting a group or an individual based on inherent characteristics (such as race, religion or gender) and that may threaten social peace.
Is freedom of expression a right?
The right to freedom of expression is enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which sets out in broad terms the human rights that each of us has. It was later protected legally by a raft of international and regional treaties.
How far does free speech go?
Criticizing government leaders, protesting, or filing a lawsuit to push for changes are all protected under the freedoms to assemble and petition. However, not all speech is protected. "True threats" and "fighting words" are not protected by the Constitution.
Does freedom of expression include clothing?
The First Amendment only prevents the government – not private people or companies – from limiting speech on clothing. And even the government can sometimes limit clothing if the clothing is unprotected speech or if a limit is required to protect safety or other key government functions.
What is article 9 of the Human Rights Act?
Article 9 protects your right to freedom of thought, belief and religion. It includes the right to change your religion or beliefs at any time. You also have the right to put your thoughts and beliefs into action.
What is an example of freedom of expression?
This includes the right to express your views aloud (for example through public protest and demonstrations) or through: published articles, books or leaflets. television or radio broadcasting. works of art.
What limits are placed on your right to freedom of expression?
The right to freedom of expression is limited to an extent that expressions cannot be in respect of propaganda for war, provocation of imminent violence, or hate speech based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion that incites the causing of harm.
Does free speech include hate speech?
In the United States, hate speech receives substantial protection under the First Amendment, based upon the idea that it is not the proper role of the government to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive.
Should there be limits to free speech?
The limitations of the freedom of speech are based on time, place and manner, regardless of the point of view. They are restrictions that balance other rights. For example, speech that significantly disrupts the school environment or infringes on the rights of others may be prohibited by schools.
Is there a law against hate speech?
Therefore, even though hate speech is protected by the First Amendment, illegal conduct motivated by an individual's hate for a particular protected group may be regulated by local, state, or federal law, and / or university policies. These laws are sometimes identified as “hate crimes.”
What are the laws for hate speech in the UK?
Any communication which is threatening or abusive, and is intended to harass, alarm, or distress someone is forbidden. The penalties for hate speech include fines, imprisonment, or both.
What is not considered free speech?
The categories of unprotected speech include obscenity, child pornography, defamatory speech, false advertising, true threats, and fighting words. Deciding what is and is not protected speech is reserved to courts of law.
What is defamatory speech?
Defamation occurs if you make a false statement of fact about someone else that harms that person's reputation.
What are the limitations of freedom of expression?
In situations like these, the state can lawfully restrict or punish expressions that cause harm. Examples of this are violations of private life, defamation, hate speech, obscenity, pornography, public order, national security, classified information, trade secrets or copyright violations.
Is there a law about freedom of expression?
Among other cherished values, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech. The U.S. Supreme Court often has struggled to determine what exactly constitutes protected speech.
Is freedom of expression a right in the UK?
All types of expression are protected for example, political, cultural, commercial, and artistic expression. We can hold and express unpopular opinions, including opinions which might shock others (although our right to do this can be restricted – see below).
What are fundamental freedoms of expression?
Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.