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There are a multitude of UN legal instruments which pertain to the rights of freedom of expression and information, and this book is the first to comprehensively map them and their function. It details the chequered history of both rights within the UN system and evaluates the suitability of the system for overcoming contemporary challenges and threats to the rights. Leading scholars address key issues, such as how the rights to freedom of expression and information can come into conflict with other human rights and with public policy goals, such as counter-terrorism. The book's institutional focus comprises five international treaties, UNESCO and the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression. Relevant for academics, lawyers, policy-makers and civil society actors, it also examines how new communication technologies have prompted fresh thinking about the substance and scope of the rights to freedom of expression and information

Das Internet ist ein Werkzeug mit einzigartigen Eigenschaften, wie dessen interaktive Natur, Geschwindigkeit, weltweite Reichweite und relative Anonymität. Staaten haben die völkerrechtliche Verpflichtung, das Recht auf Meinungsäußerungsfreiheit und die notwendigen Mittel zur Erlangung dieses Rechts zu fördern und zu erleichtern. Das Internet wird als "Schlüsselmittel" einer breiten Palette von Menschenrechten, insbesondere der Meinungsfreiheit, beschrieben. Die Staaten müssen das Internet also für alle zugänglich und erschwinglich machen.Während das Internet für sein großes Potenzial zur Förderung der freien Meinungsäußerung gelobt wird wachsen die Bedenken über drohende Bedrohungen der Meinungs- und Informationsfreiheit. Der Inhalt wird oft durch Zensur, einschließlich Blockierung und Filterung eingeschränkt, und Nutzern wird der Zugang zum Internet verwehrt. Die Überwachung von Online-Aktivitäten und Verhaftungen von Aktivisten und Kritikern erfolgt regelmäßig. Herausforderungen wie Hassreden, Schaden für Kinder, gefälschte Nachrichten und vieles mehr erfordern einheitliche Bestimmungen. Jede Beschränkung des Rechts auf freie Meinungsäußerung muss jedoch die dreiteilige Prüfung der Rechtmäßigkeit, Legitimität und Verhältnismäßigkeit nach dem Völkerrecht bestehen.Viele Akteure des Internet-Governance haben Vorschriften verabschiedet, um freie Rede im Internet zu schützen, während sie auch die ernsten Bedrohungen berücksichtigen. Das Potenzial des Internets, die Meinungsäußerungsfreiheit und Informationsfreiheit deutlich zu erleichtern und zu fördern, hängt von der Regulierung des Internets und dessen Umsetzung und Überwachung ab.Eine sichere und offene Informationsgesellschaft und ein freier Informationsfluss sind notwendig, damit das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerungs- und Informationsfreiheit gänzlich ausgeübt werden kann. ; The Internet is a tool with unique characteristics, such as its interactive nature, speed, worldwide reach and relative anonymity. States have the positive obligation under international law to promote and facilitate the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and the means necessary to enjoy this right. The Internet is described as a 'key means and 'enabler of freedom of expression. States thus have to make the Internet available, accessible, and affordable for all.While the Internet is praised for its great potential to foster free speech, concerns over imminent threats against freedom of expression and information are growing. Content is often restricted through censorship, including blocking, filtering and disconnecting users from the information society. Surveillance of online activities and arrests of activists and critics occur on a regular basis. Challenges like hate speech, harm to children, fake news and many more are call for regulation. Any limitation of the right to freedom of expression however has to pass the three-part test of legality, legitimacy and proportionality under international law.Many actors of Internet Governance have adopted regulations in order to protect free speech online while also considering its serious threats. The potential of the Internet to significantly facilitate and foster freedom of expression depends on the regulation of cyberspace and its implementation and monitoring.A safe, secure and open Internet and free flow of information are necessary for people to fully enjoy their right to freedom of expression and information. ; vorgelegt von Melanie Helene Schinagl ; Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Diplomarbeit, 2017 ; (VLID)1761611

Throughout history, mankind has been inclined to use an increasingly advanced technology to enhance communication skills between them. Communication already represents a need as essential as it is considered one of the fundamental human rights. This right of communication today translates, among others, as the right to freedom of expression, as well as the right to information. These rights are provided in the highest acts such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Constitution of the Republic of Albania as well as other laws or bylaws issued on the basis and implementation of the Constitution. The human right to express oneself, to be informed and at the same time to preserve privacy, is developing along with the great boom that has taken place in the development of communication technology, in an increasingly connected world, so much so that to look like a global village, where information spreads very quickly. The evolution that has taken place with the development of information technology and related digital communications in recent years has changed the communication practices around the world. But in addition to this, the legislation that regulates this field has undergone constant changes, due to the fact of direct implication for human rights.

Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights has become a crucial instrument to stimulate and compel the national authorities of the 47 member states not only to abstain from interferences restricting media freedom and investigative journalism, but also to promote transparency, media pluralism and internet freedom. This paper explores some of the characteristics and developments of the European Court's case law regarding media, journalism, internet freedom, newsgathering, whistleblowing and access to information. The perspective of the analysis is that effectively guaranteeing the right to freedom of expression and information helps developing the quality of democracy, the protection of other human rights and ultimately contributes to realise a more sustainable, and hence a better, world to live in. ; Investigative journalism, Media and internet freedom, Access to information, Whistleblowing

The main legislative instrument for the protection of personal data in the EU is the Data Protection Directive. It has an extremely wide scope because most data that is shared can be classed as personal data and most activities concerning data can be seen as the processing of it. It also covers a large amount of modern communication methods that fall under the protection of the right to freedom of expression and information under Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Right of the European Unions. To address the tension between the rights, the Data Protection Directive provides for different mechanisms to balance them. This article departs from the premise that European courts prioritize certain interests in a given social context through this balancing exercise. The purpose of this article is to verify how the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) sets those priorities where the rights to data protection and freedom of expression and information conflict, especially in the context of developing communication technologies.

This paper aims to shed light on the right to information and the freedom of the media in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. Infection disease outbreaks are invariably characterized by myths and rumors, boosted by social media accounts, that media often pick up and circulate. On the grounds of protecting public health, some Member States of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe imposed strict rules on the dissemination of "fake news". Lacking a legal definition of this term leaves room for arbitrary and broad interpretations. Emergency legislation adopted under the pretext of combating misinformation and disinformationand to protect public health restrict the freedom of expression and information. This essay review of the outbreak communication principles established by the World Health Organization and checks the compliance of emergency measures against fundamental human rights. ; Paper available at http://www.aracneeditrice.it/index.php/estratto.html?item=10.4399/97888255402468&isbn=9788825540246. Journal issue available from http://www.aracneeditrice.it/index.php/pubblicazione.html?item=9788825540246. ISBN: 978-88-255-4024-6 / ISSN: 2499-6394. The author gratefully acknowledges the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, for supporting this work through grant SFRH/BD/136170/2018.

ABSTRACTControl over information is essential to business. This has become increasingly true in an era in which technological advances have enabled the rapid globalization of business. This article explores the implications of this control of information for freedom of speech and information. Four different situations are considered: censorship of the Internet by search engines albeit at the direction of a government; restrictions on Internet content by Internet Services Providers acting on their own; decisions by retail businesses not to sell various DVDs, CDs, etc. to their customers; and legal suits brought against individuals and groups by businesses seeking to prevent the further spread of information they deem injurious to their products or activities. The paper seeks to sort out the various rights and values involved in these cases, when a business may be justifiably said to be violating individuals' rights to freedom of information, and when customers and citizens do not have justified complaints against business decisions not to provide them with certain information products.

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table Of Contents -- Introduction: First Freedom -- Chapter 1: America's First Amendment -- Chapter 2: Freedom's Around The World -- Chapter 3: Promoting Freedom Of Speech -- Glossary -- In FDR's Words -- Additional Resources -- Index/About The Author -- Back Cover

In an EU context, the benefits attributed to new communication technologies are many: the creation of employment and economic growth; the enrichment of cultural/political dialogue and civic engagement; and, the permeation of a sense of European identity across the region. However, in the face of an increased emphasis on economic competitiveness both globally and at the EU policy level, there exists an unmistakable convergent approach to audiovisual/communications, cultural and competition policies. Parallel to this is an upsurge of concern—voiced by, for example, the European Parliament—over media pluralism and freedom of expression. Although the virtues of safeguarding "media pluralism" and "freedom of speech" in a healthy democracy are axiomatic, in the face of current dynamics, their meaning is widely contested. The purpose of this article is to offer an analysis of recent EU Information Society (IS) policies in relation to media pluralism and freedom of speech. Mediepluralisme og ytringsfrihed: Et omstridt felt inden for EU-informationssamfundspolitikker I en EU-kontekst er der mange fordele, som tilskrives nye kommunikationsteknologier: Skabelsen af beskæftigelse og økonomisk vækst; berigelsen af kulturel/politisk dialog og borgerengagement; og udbredelsen af en fornemmelse af europæisk identitet på tværs af regionerne. Men i lyset af en øget vægtning af økonomisk konkurrence, såvel globalt som i relation til EU's politikker, eksisterer der en umiskendelig sammensat tilgang til politikker for audiovisuel kommunikation, kultur og konkurrence. Parallelt med dette findes en pludselig stigning i interessen omkring mediepluralisme og ytringsfrihed. Skønt værdien af at beskytte "mediepluralisme" og "ytringsfrihed" i lyset af aktuelle dynamikker er aksiomatisk i et sundt demokrati, udfordres betydningen af dette i udstrakt grad. Formålet med denne artikel er at give en analyse af nyere EU-informationssamfundspolitikker (IS policies) i relation til mediepluralisme og ytringsfrihed.