Dossier: Free Speech – Schweizer Monat

Hate has always existed, progress only when free speech did. By allowing the expression of hate we get useful information.

John Stuart Mill bekam die Engstirnigkeit der Leute am eigenen Leib zu spüren. Bild: Wikimedia Commons.

Freedom of speech is a precondition for intellectual progress. Yet it has itself become an ideological weapon in today’s arena of political conflict.

Michael Shellenberger. Bild: Oscar Gonzalez/Alamy.

Michael Shellenberger helped to publish the “Twitter Files”, which exposed the U.S. government’s large-scale efforts to censor social media. However, he’s more worried about the growing hostility to free speech in the EU.

Muslime demonstrieren gegen die Veröffentlichungen von Mohammedkarikaturen in einem dänischen Satireblatt vor der dänischen Botschaft in Berlin. Bild: Müller-Stauffenberg/ullstein/Gety Images.

Restrictions on freedom of speech are often justified by invoking the sensitivities of certain groups. This narrows public debate and ultimately harms

Martin Grichting, Bild: KEYSTONE/Gaetan Bally.

History shows that when religion and state power form an alliance, freedom of speech is in danger. It is worth remembering this today, as «errors» are once again being fought with legal means.

In Germany, anyone can say whatever they like, until the police ring the doorbell at six in the morning. Politicians intimidate citizens who speak their minds and enlist entire armies of NGOs for their purposes.

It is far easier to remain silent and avoid standing out in the sea of conformists shaped by the prevailing spirit of the age. Courage always dies first, and then freedom.

Menschen halten im November 2022 in der chinesischen Hauptstadt Peking weisse Blätter hoch, um gegen die Coronapolitik zu protestieren. Bild: Reuters/Thomas Peter.

In China, freedom of expression formally exists – but only as long as it does not challenge the regime. Criticism should primarily signal to the leadership where action is needed.

Hate speech is a real problem. But takedowns and deplatforming are ineffective and carry damaging side effects. A better and more liberal response is to confront hateful speech directly.