The online conundrum: Protect speech or society?
We look at how countries are prosecuting people for what they say on social media.
Many post to Facebook and Twitter the same way they speak privately to their friends.
Online conversations, however, are public and may be limited by law especially when it comes to controversial speech.
Even countries that put a premium on free expression are prosecuting netizens for things they post.
Do these laws infringe on free speech or ensure civilised society?
On this episode of The Stream, we speak to Scott Edwards, Director of the Science for Human Rights program at Amnesty International; Zahed Amanullah, Chief Media Officer at Unitas Communications; and Gavin Phillipson, Professor of Human Rights Law at Durham University.
What do you think? Do laws limiting controversial speech online squelch expression or keep the peace? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using hashtag #AJStream.
Here are some highlights from the conversation online: