On Jan. 6, 1941, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ended his State of the Union speech by outlining a future based on "four essential human freedoms." The first two were "freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world" and the "freedom of every person to worship God in his own way." Roosevelt was also emphatic that no one should expect "from a dictator's peace" either "freedom of expression" or "freedom of religion."
Roosevelt's warning against the march of authoritarianism, and the urgency of protecting free speech as its antidote, is depressingly relevant as World Press Freedom Day approaches on May 3. Although no Adolf Hitler threatens a totalitarian takeover of the free world, authoritarianism is spreading around the globe. And the infection seems immune to the supposed antibodies of freedom of speech and the press. Fifty-four journalists were killed and 251 imprisoned in 2018, which also marked a 13-year low point in press freedom as measured by Freedom House. "Digital authoritarianism" has splintered the dream on unrestricted online freedom. In Europe, even the European Union and democratic governments in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are taking drastic measures to curb online speech.
Read Full Article »