What Freedom of Expression Asks of Us

About this event

Freedom of expression is the only right in international human rights that comes with duties and responsibilities. It grants the rights bearer not only the privilege of self-expression, but also the obligation to consider its effects on others. Despite this, discussions often centre on the scope of the freedom itself and the legitimacy of state-imposed limitations, leaving our shared responsibility, and the potential impact on society’s most vulnerable, under-examined. This is particularly evident in the context of online hate speech, where the social and technical conditions of the digital environment tend to amplify freedoms while eroding responsibility, and placing unprecedented power in the hands of private corporations to be arbiters of right and wrong. 

Dr. Emily B. Laidlaw will examine the ecosystem of online hate and invites us to move beyond an individualistic view of freedom of expression, to reflect on the meaning and practice of collective accountability. By reframing our perspective, we can better define both the role and limits of the law in safeguarding free expression and combatting hatred. 

About the speaker

Dr. Emily B. Laidlaw is the Călin Rovinescu Visiting Scholar on Anti-Hate Speech and an Associate member of the Centre for Law, Technology and Society at the University of Ottawa, and the Canada Research Chair in Cybersecurity Law and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary.