Two current news stories raise important questions about online speech, and how it should be regulated.
First, twitter has been taken over by Elon Musk, who has slashed staff numbers, allowed previously barred users – not least, Donald Trump – to return, and pledged a new era of free speech and less regulation. Some claim that as a result, Twitter has seen a deluge of disinformation and hate speech.
In the UK, meanwhile, the Online Safety Bill is making its way through parliament. This was originally intended in part to protect democracy against disinformation. But these provisions have now largely been stripped out, weakening the protections it will provide.
This week we are joined by Dr Jeff Howard, Associate Professor in Political Theory here in the UCL Department of Political Science, an expert in free speech and on the ethics of online speech.
UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.
The UK Healthcare Crisis
Responding to Civilian Harm in Millitary Conflicts
Do Protests Affect What Politicians Say?
Settling Disputes Between Governments and Investors
Death Threats and Online Content Moderation
Managing Diversity Amongst the EU Member States
The Battle for LGBT+ Rights
How Parliaments Question Prime Ministers
The Future of Power-Sharing in Northern Ireland
Improving Public Services
Russian Discourses of Sovereignty
Historical Research in Political Science
Climate Change Loss and Damage
'Acts of speech' and how people recieve them
The Domestic Politics of IMF Lending
The Politics of Migration
Fiscal Transparency And The Public Purse
Backyard Housing And The Dynamics Of Collective Action
Taking Offence
The State of US Politics
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