Protecting freedom of speech - online

PA 241/11 Free speech online has just as much legal protection as it does in traditional media, according to a United Nations decision guided by a University of Nottingham academic. A two-year negotiation process led by Professor Michael O'Flaherty has reaffirmed the UN's commitment to freedom of expression - and stressed that new media such as blogs and social networking sites enjoy all the protection afforded to conventional forms such as newspapers, TV and radio. Professor O'Flaherty, a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, led the project on one of the most sensitive topics in international human rights law: the extent to which freedom of expression can be restricted by the state. The result is the UN's new General Comment on Freedom of Expression, which has now been adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Committee and will have a major influence on the development of legal standards globally. The General Comment - a 15-page document drafted by Professor O'Flaherty - addresses many issues including blasphemy laws, so-called "memory" laws which penalise the expression of opinions about historical facts, new media, laws on treason, counter-terrorism, lese majeste, defamation of the head of state and public officials. Professor O'Flaherty, Co-Director of the University's Human Rights Law Centre, said free speech is one of the most cherished of all the human rights. He added: "In the current debates around media activity in the light of the ongoing hacking scandal, the General Comment is a reminder of the importance of freedom and independence of the media and of the need to regulate the media only in exceptional cases.