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Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World

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Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World

by Timothy Garton Ash

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	504 pages

In his new book, Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World, renowned legal scholar and free speech advocate Geoffrey Stone offers a powerful and timely defense of free speech in the digital age. Drawing on decades of experience litigating landmark First Amendment cases, Stone argues that free speech is essential for a healthy democracy and that we must protect it from those who would seek to silence dissenting voices.

Stone's ten principles for free speech are:

Free speech is essential for a healthy democracy. Without free speech, citizens cannot hold their government accountable or participate in the political process. Free speech is also necessary for the free exchange of ideas and the advancement of knowledge.
Free speech must be protected from all forms of censorship, whether by government or private actors. Censorship can take many forms, from outright bans on certain types of speech to more subtle forms of pressure, such as economic boycotts or social ostracism. All forms of censorship are dangerous because they prevent people from expressing their views and limit the free exchange of ideas.
The government has a limited role to play in regulating speech. The government may only regulate speech that is likely to cause imminent harm or that falls into a narrow category of unprotected speech, such as obscenity or child pornography. In all other cases, the government must allow free speech to flourish.
The internet has created new challenges for free speech. The internet has made it easier than ever for people to share their views, but it has also made it easier for governments and private actors to censor speech. We need to develop new ways to protect free speech in the digital age.
Social media companies have a responsibility to protect free speech on their platforms. Social media companies are private actors, but they have a significant impact on the public discourse. They must take steps to ensure that their platforms are not used to censor speech or spread hate speech and misinformation.
We all have a responsibility to defend free speech. Free speech is not a self-executing right. We must all be vigilant in defending free speech from those who would seek to silence it.

Stone's book is a passionate and eloquent defense of free speech. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of democracy in the digital age.

Praise for Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World

"Geoffrey Stone has written a brilliant and timely book about the importance of free speech in the digital age. This book is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of democracy."—Cass Sunstein, author of How to Change Your Mind

"Geoffrey Stone is one of the nation's leading experts on free speech. In this book, he offers a clear and concise explanation of why free speech is essential for a healthy democracy and how we can protect it in the digital age."—Nadine Strossen, president of the American Civil Liberties Union

"Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World is a powerful and persuasive defense of free speech. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the challenges facing free speech in the digital age."—Eric Posner, author of The Case Against Free Speech

Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World

by Timothy Garton Ash

4.4 out of 5