Definition of Freedom of Expression

The fact of being able to express our ideas and opinions in a context of freedom is known as freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is a right recognized by democratic nations and as such a right has the purpose of allowing the diffusion of ideas without restrictions or coercion, except those that are contemplated in the legal system legal. In other words, the laws explicitly establish that individuals can express themselves as they deem appropriate and this right is exercised through the means of communication, in the political sphere or in the personal sphere, but despite this recognition there are certain limits to freedom of expression that should not be exceeded.

The apology of violence and defamation are two limits of freedom of expression

A citizen of a democratic country is free to say what he thinks about any matter. If all individuals are equal before the lawIt is logical that all opinions should be respected equally. However, if freedom of expression is interpreted on an unlimited basis, it becomes a potential danger.

Certain ideas cannot spread freely, as they are valued as a threat for the freedom of others. In this way, the apology of the violence it is the main limit to freedom of expression. Another issue that limits freedom of expression is defamation. In this sense, if a person disqualifies another in order to harm him, he may be committing a crime of defamation, regardless of whether the information disseminated is true or false.

Threats to freedom of expression

The spread of ideas related to violence or defamation are two issues that the law considers as legal limits to freedom of expression. This implies that the rest of opinions are protected by freedom of expression and cannot be prosecuted by law. Despite this, there are certain real threats that endanger true freedom of expression:

1) when, on certain occasions, governments adopt restrictive measures in order to guarantee the safety national,

2) when journalists are pressured not to disseminate certain information and

3) when the right to protest (a variant of freedom of expression) is limited by the authority.

These three cases serve to remind us that freedom of expression has latent threats, that is, a whole series of interests that try to curb the free expression of ideas.

Freedom of expression must be understood as a basic principle of democracy

In democratic systems, citizens elect their representatives through vote. The idea of ​​one man equals one vote is an essential aspect of the democratic system. The vote allows the sovereignty of a nation falls to the people. However, the right to vote is of little value if it is not accompanied by the right to freedom of expression.

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