Free Speech Issues
Introduction
The internet facilitates a global environment for social interaction. Modern interaction revolves around social networks, with status updates, comment chains, new feeds, omnipresent reviews, ranking, rating, and political advocacy. However, uncivil and manipulated behaviors on the internet might lead to various ethical issues. According to Woods (2012), uncivil and manipulated behaviors might change social media into an Al-patrolled and regulated safe space, protected from free-for-all zones. This means the ethical issues may drive the government and organization to regulate social media behavior. Thus, there are worries that the regulations can prevent free speech and compromise privacy. The uncertainty of social media behavior has led to the challenge of defining free speech. This study develops a policy to address the challenge of defining free speech using utilitarianism and suggests steps that individuals and organizations can take to resolve the challenge.
Developing a Policy to Address the Challenge in
Freedom of expression is a crucial component of development. According to Ruane (2014), human beings improve through free speech. Defining free speech may help resolve the problems of freedom of expression. Sangsuvan (2013) suggests that guaranteeing each person’s right to free speech enhances interaction. Freedom of expression has long been considered a fundamental right. Various reasons make freedom of expression a crucial to human life. Firstly, freedom of expression enhances human identity and their ability to express themselves in words, music, dance, and other forms of expression. Secondly, it acts as a foundation for other human rights and freedom. Woods (2012) suggests that it would be difficult to mobilize, organize, inform, or create awareness about human rights without freedom of expression. Thirdly, freedom of expression, transparency, and openness in social and economic development.
Despite the usefulness of freedom of expression, some people and agencies are concerned about public order and national security issues. In this sense, freedom of expression requires a developed policy to address the issues. Utilitarianism moral theory can help develop a policy to promote freedom of expression. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that distinguishes right from wrong by focusing on outcomes. Sangsuvan (2013) considers utilitarianism a form of consequentialism. Utilitarianism believes that the most ethical choice produces the greatest good for the largest number. In this sense, utilitarianism is an appropriate approach to moral reasoning regarding the issues of free speech.
While freedom of expression is a foundation for developing other rights, it can be considered morally right. Freedom of expression enhances other rights by mobilization and creating awareness. Thus, promoting freedom of expression would benefit many people. For example, freedom of expression can allow feminists to advocate for gender equality. According to utilitarianism theory, a policy supporting freedom of expression would be more appropriate than a policy limiting speech. However, freedom of expression may trigger ethical issues such as hate speech. In this regard, a policy regulating social media content can address ethical issues and promote freedom of expression—for example, no sharing hate speech on social networks.
Steps that Individuals, Online Communities, Corporations, Scholars, and Governments Can Take to Successfully Address the Issues.
Social media uses can help address the issues of freedom of expression by regulating harmful speech. Ruane (2014) suggests that the regulation of harmful content in online spaces requires drawing a line between hate speech and legitimate freedom of speech. In this sense, scholars can help social media users understand the aspects of hate speech and freedom of speech. For example, scholars can create awareness about freedom of speech, as protected in the constitution. Woods (2012) argues that some countries do not provide effective protection despite the widespread protection of freedom of speech. Thus, scholars have a significant role in educating social media users to create and sharing moral content.
The government can address the issues of freedom of expression by developing and enforcing laws to regulate speech. For instance, Sangsuvan (2013) suggests that the First Amendment reveals that freedom of speech gives all Americans the liberty to criticize the government by speaking their minds without fear of being persecuted or censored. Thus, the government should encourage people to express their ideas on social networks. The government should also monitor speeches to prevent hate speech and other immorality.
Conclusion
Defining freedom of speech has become challenging because people have various opinions regarding national security. Some people feel that freedom of expression helps enhance other human rights, while others feel that it contributes to immorality such as hate speech. Utilitarianism theory supports freedom of speech because it enhances human rights. However, individuals, government, and organizations should improve freedom of speech by educating social media users and developing policies to address the issues.