Current Events: Freedom of Speech & Expression Around the World

In April 2021, Mongkol Thirakot, a Thai man from Chiang Rai province in Thailand, was arrested and received a 28-year sentence for violations of lèse-majesté. Thailand’s lèse-majesté law prohibits criticizing the country’s monarchy, and each perceived violation carries up to a 15 year sentence. In January of 2024, a Thai appeals court added more jail time to Mongkol’s initial sentence based upon numerous social media posts by Mongkol that the court perceived to be critical of the Thai monarchy. International human rights groups have condemned the sentence, but also Thailand’s lèse-majesté law in general. Thailand’s sentencing of a reformer activist under such a strict law has highlighted the status of freedom of speech and expression globally, leaving many concerned about these rights.

Freedom of speech and expression have been seen as fundamental human rights that serve as a cornerstone of democratic societies. They allow individuals to express their thoughts, opinions, and ideas without fear of censorship or persecution from the state. Freedom of speech is a right preserved in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is formally granted by the laws of most nations. These freedoms vary significantly, with some regions experiencing robust protection of these rights, while others face challenges and restrictions.

In many countries with well established democratic traditions, freedom of speech is typically safeguarded by constitutional provisions and entrenched legal frameworks. Citizens of these nations, on average, enjoy broad rights to express themselves through various mediums, such as print, broadcast, and digital platforms. Yet with the rapid influence of spaces like the internet, the debate about the limits of free speech, particularly around hate speech and incitement to violence, have heated up in these historical free speech-friendly countries. Conversely, there are a number of countries who implement, to varying degrees, constraints on their citizens’ rights to free speech and expression. Autocratic regimes, back-sliding democracies, and others often suppress dissenting voices, limit access to information, and control the media to maintain their desired social order.

This week’s Current Events resources examines the status of freedom of speech and expression in countries around the world. The resources shared provide information and context around the ongoing battles and debates around where and how freedom of speech and expression are implemented in societies across the globe.

Essential Questions:

How is freedom of speech or expression typically defined?
What are the typical legal exceptions to freedom of speech, and why do they exist?
What are the challenges societies face if they lack freedom of speech or expression?
What are the challenges societies face when they have robust freedom of speech or expression protections?
What is the relationship between a healthy democracy and its population’s right to freedom of speech and expression?
In your opinion, should there be limits on an individual’s right to speech and expression? Explain.
In your opinion, should every country adopt the right to free speech and expression? Explain.