Freedom of expression and the internet / Wolfgang Benedek and Matthias C. Kettermann.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Benedek, Wolfgang, author.

Kettemann, Matthias C., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Freedom of expression--Europe.

Freedom of expression.

Freedom of expression--Europe--Cases.

Internet--Law and legislation--Europe.

Internet.

Internet--Law and legislation--Europe--Cases.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (235 pages)

Edition:

Updated and revised second edition.

Place of Publication:

Strasbourg Cedex : Council of Europe Publishing, 2020.

Summary:

An invaluable resource for students of law, politics, international relations and technology as well as for diplomats and civil society actors, this publication demonstrates how the Council of Europe contributes to ensuring that everyone's voice online can be heard. This is key to sustainable, human rights oriented and people-centred digitalisation.Human rights matter on the internet. Without freedom of expression, people cannot participate in everything that the information society has to offer. Yet online free speech is in danger. Between state laws, private rules and algorithms, full participation in the online communicative space faces many challenges. This publication explores the profound impact of the internet on free expression and how it can be effectively secured online.The second, updated edition of this introduction into the protection of freedom of expression online answers essential questions regarding the extent and limits of freedom of expression online and the role of social networks, courts, states and organisations in online communication spaces. In clear language, with vivid examples spanning two decades of internet law, the authors answer questions on freedom of expression in cyberspace. Addressing issues from the protection of bloggers to the right to access online information, the publication also shows the importance of the standard-setting, monitoring and promotion activities of international and non-governmental organisations and includes a chapter on relevant national practice. It pays special attention to the role of European human rights law and the Council of Europe as this region's most important human rights organisation.

Contents:

Intro

List of abbreviations

Table of cases

Preface

Chapter 1. Introduction: the challenges of ensuring freedom of expression on the internet

Chapter 2. The content of freedom of expression online

2.1. Main elements of the right

2.1.1. Freedom of opinion

2.1.2. Freedom of information

2.1.3. Freedom of the press and media

2.1.4. Freedom of international communication

2.1.5. Freedom of artistic expression

2.1.6. Freedom of cultural expression

2.1.7. Freedom of science

2.1.8. A new freedom? Internet freedom and openness

2.1.9. Right to anonymity

2.1.10. Right to whistle-blowing

2.2. Corollary rights: freedom of assembly and association, and the rights to education and access to knowledge

2.3. Right to access to the internet

Chapter 3. Restrictions on freedom of expression online

3.1. Principles and problems

3.2. Criteria for restrictions and the practice of the Court in internet cases

3.2.1. Criteria for restrictions

3.2.2. The practice of the Court

The margin of appreciation

The role of context

Protection of the rights of others

Information already available on the internet

Specific responsibilities of the media

Responsibilities of politicians

3.3. Conclusion

Chapter 4. Standard setting by the Council of Europe and non-state actors

4.1. The context: the role of human rights in internet governance

4.2. Activities of the Council of Europe: awareness-raising and standard setting

4.2.1. Recommendations and declarations

4.2.2. Guidelines and recommendations for business

4.3. Activities of non-state actors

4.3.1. The Charter of Human Rights and Principles for the Internet

4.3.2. Standard setting in the private sector

4.3.3. Transparency to protect freedom of expression

Chapter 5. Specific issues.

5.1. Internet content regulation and freedom of expression

5.2. Information and disinformation

5.2.1. The consequences of misinformation

5.3. Technological neutrality and freedom of expression

5.4. Network neutrality and freedom of expression

5.5. Characteristics of protected and unprotected speech online

5.6. Fighting online hate speech

5.7. Defamation, reputation and freedom of expression online

5.8. Protection of children in light of freedom of expression

5.9. Freedom of expression and internet domain names

5.10. The role of internet intermediaries: reconfiguring their rights and duties

5.11. Regulatory approaches to freedom of expression in social networks

5.12. Private and public spaces on the internet

5.13. Freedom of expression and algorithms

5.13.1. Training data

5.13.2. Overblocking

5.13.3. Lack of explainability

5.14. Whistle-blowing as a human right

5.15. Transcending the national level

Chapter 6. Relevant practice on the national level

6.1. Jurisdiction and freedom of expression online

6.1.1. France v. US and Yahoo v. LICRA: a tale of two countries and two courts

6.1.2. UK: the internet comes under national jurisdiction

6.1.3. European Union: the right to be forgotten and its limits

6.1.4. Austria: worldwide obligation to search for unlawful content?

6.2. Access and freedom of expression online

6.2.1. Europe: restrictions placed on prisoners' access to certain sites

6.2.2. China and Turkey: blocking access to Wikipedia

6.2.3. India: shutdown of internet access and cell phone services in Kashmir

6.2.4. Internet access as a protected right in 20 Council of Europe member states

Germany: the internet as an essential part of life

Finland: a right to broadband?

6.2.5. Cloudflare terminates service for 8chan in response to US shootings.

6.3. Copyright and freedom of expression online

6.3.1. France: the limits to enforcing copyright

6.3.2. European Parliament: EU Copyright Directive

6.3.3. Italy: Court holds video-sharing platform liable for content uploaded by users

6.4. Public and private violations of freedom of expression online

6.4.1. Hate speech disrupts freedom of expression online

6.4.2. Germany's Network Enforcement Act

6.4.3. Singapore: bill to fight misinformation

6.4.4. Russia: criminalisation of online content that 'disrespects' the government

6.5. Powerful internet companies and national laws: who wins the battle for freedom of expression?

6.5.1. Google Italy: personalising (criminal) liability for online content

6.5.2. UK: publisher's liability for Google confirmed

6.5.3. Social media platforms remove Chinese state-sponsored disinformation campaign targeting Hong Kong

6.6. Business and freedom of expression online

6.6.1. Tajikistan: no complicity of companies in censorship

6.6.2. EU: does the export of censorship and surveillance technology violate human rights?

Chapter 7. European monitoring mechanisms

7.1. Council of Europe Internet Governance Strategy

7.2. Monitoring by Council of Europe bodies

7.2.1. The Committee of Ministers

7.2.2. The Parliamentary Assembly

7.2.3. The Secretary General

7.2.4. The Commissioner for Human Rights

7.2.5. The European Court of Human Rights

7.2.6. The Council of Europe's other monitoring bodies

The European Committee on Social Rights

The Advisory Committee for the Protection of National Minorities

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

7.2.7. Capacity-building

7.3. Monitoring by the OSCE and the EU

7.3.1. The OSCE

7.3.2. The EU

7.4. European hotlines

7.5. Civil society watchdogs.

Chapter 8. Promotion of freedom of expression online

8.1. The Council of Europe

8.2. The European Union

8.3. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

8.4. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

8.5. The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression

8.6. Initiatives by individual states

Chapter 9. Conclusions

9.1. Freedom of expression as the key right of the internet age

9.2. Setting standards for free speech online: the impact of the Council of Europe

9.3. Protecting internet-based freedom of expression: new challenges

9.4. The role of national courts and of the European Court of Human Rights

9.5. Judges outside the courtroom: monitoring freedom of expression

9.6. Taking things one step further: promoting freedom of expression

9.7. Freedom of expression on the internet: a catalyst and an enabler of human rights

Summary

Bibliography

About the authors.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9789287187239

9287187231

OCLC:

1409701573