Balancing Free Speech and Hate Speech: There is debate about how to strike the right balance between protecting free expression and combating hate speech, which can incite violence, discrimination, or hostility toward individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, religion, or nationality.

The link between freedom of expression and hate speech in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) context is a source of ongoing debate and controversy. As a cornerstone declaration for human rights, the UDHR highlights the significance of free expression while acknowledging the need to balance it with safeguarding persons from damage, particularly hate speech.

The following UDHR clauses are pertinent to the discussion:

Article 19: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” This clause expressly affirms the right to free expression, emphasizing its broad breadth and covering the free exchange of information and ideas.

Controversion develops when examining the constraints or restrictions on freedom of expression, particularly with hate speech. Hate speech is expressions that encourage or incite violence, prejudice, or hostility against individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The discussion revolves around establishing a compromise between promoting free expression and preventing the harm caused by hate speech. Supporters of totally free speech claim that all forms of communication, including unpleasant or hateful speech, should be protected since curbing speech would violate individual liberties and hinder open dialogue. They believe that more communication and open discussions should be used to combat hate speech.