A broad explanation of the various dimensions of the problem of bad speech on the internet within the American context. One of the most fiercely debated issues of this era is what to do about bad speech-hate speech, disinformation and propaganda campaigns, and incitement of violence-on the internet, and in particular speech on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. In Social Media, Freedom of Speech, and the Future of our Democracy, Lee C. Bollinger and Geoffrey R. Stone have gathered an eminent cast of contributors--including Hillary Clinton, Amy Klobuchar, Sheldon Whitehouse, Mark Warner, Newt Minow, Tim Wu, Cass Sunstein, Jack Balkin, Emily Bazelon, and others--to explore the various dimensions of this problem in the American context. They stress how difficult it is to develop remedies given that some of these forms of bad speech are ordinarily protected by the First Amendment. Bollinger and Stone argue that it is important to remember that the last time we encountered major new communications technology-television and radio-we established a federal agency to provide oversight and to issue regulations to protect and promote the public interest. Featuring a variety of perspectives from some of America's leading experts on this hotly contested issue, this volume offers new insights for the future of free speech in the social media era.

In the rapidly evolving digital age, the pursuit of truth has become a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek. As misinformation and disinformation percolate through the vast networks of social media, the line between fact and fiction seems increasingly blurred. At the heart of this tumultuous landscape is a paradox: Social media platforms, designed to facilitate free expression and global connectivity, have become both the guardians of information and the gateways to a labyrinth of falsehoods. "Who Decides What's True?" is a deep dive into these complex, interconnected issues. In this book, Josh demystifies the nature of truth in the digital age, probes the anatomy of misinformation, and wrestles with the moral, ethical, and legal challenges of content moderation. Chapter by chapter, Josh unpacks the evolution of social media from mere communication tools to the de facto public squares of discourse. He delves into the reach and influence of these platforms, revealing the double-edged sword they wield in disseminating both knowledge and falsehoods. Through comprehensive analyses, he confronts the implications of misinformation, from political manipulation and election interference to public health crises and social unrest. At its core, the book grapples with a critical dilemma: How can freedom of speech be preserved on platforms inundated with harmful misinformation? This question forms the axis around which the exploration of content moderation revolves. Examining the role and responsibilities of social media platforms, the book sheds light on the operational and ethical challenges they face in the curation of content. It also scrutinizes the vital role of fact-checking organizations and the mechanisms for independent oversight of content decisions. The narrative then ventures into possible strategies for navigating this murky terrain. From fostering media literacy and critical thinking to implementing platform features and tools for combating misinformation, the book presents potential pathways towards a more truthful digital world. In its final sections, "Who Decides What's True?" takes a bold stride into the future, anticipating potential regulatory changes and their implications for social media. It dissects the intersecting concerns of data privacy and user rights, all while speculating about the impact of emerging technologies on the propagation of misinformation. Anchored in extensive research and informed analysis, this book is a necessary read for anyone looking to understand the complexities of truth, freedom of speech, and social media in today's interconnected world. It provides a blueprint for navigating the vast, often confusing terrain of digital discourse. It asks the tough questions, challenges assumptions, and invites its readers to participate in a crucial conversation about the role of truth in the age of social media. This book is more than just a critical exploration; it's a call to action for everyone who believes in the value of truth and the power of informed dialogue.

This book explores the nature of hate speech on social media. Readers will find chapters written by 21 authors from 18 universities or research centers. It includes researchers from 11 countries, prioritizing a diversity of approaches from the Global North and Global South – Brazil, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Germany, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and the USA. The analyses herein involve the realities in an even larger number of countries, given the transnational approach of some of these studies. One can find a preview of the chapters at the beginning of the book, with abstracts organized in a separate section. It is evident that the authors study the impact of recent events on hate speech – the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia- Ukraine war, the refugee crisis – and recurrent attacks on minority groups such as women, immigrants, or the LGBTQ+ community. The authors employ classic and digital research methods, using quantitative and qualitative data gathered from platforms like Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. As a result, readers will encounter taxonomic proposals, new methodological approaches, theoretical frameworks, and mapping of behavioral patterns.

This book explores the underlying philosophies and values that inform the speech rules that a government or community institutes.

Freedom of expression has long been cherished as a liberal ideal. But in the political climate of the new millennium free expression finds itself under assault. Muslims greeted the publication by a Danish newspaper of cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad with outrage. The Pope was forced to issue an apology after Muslims denounced his remarks about a Byzantine emperor as anti-Islamic. Meanwhile in the UK, the play Behzti was cancelled after protests by Sikhs and Christian activists attempted to force the BBC not to screen Jerry Springer: the Opera. The political establishment, as well as religious activists, has also tried to gag free speech. Moves to ban inciting religious hatred and “glorifying” acts of terrorism, have stirred up political ferment. In several jurisdictions Holocaust denial is already outlawed. The advent of the internet, with its lack of regulation, has fuelled long-standing feminist concerns about pornography. Child pornography has become rampant on the web. This collection explores the new challenges to free expression posed by cultural and political conflict and by technological change. It asks whether classical and modern liberalism still carry conviction against challenges to liberal orthodoxy. The contributors ask how to weigh the claims of free expression against other fundamental rights such as group membership, personal privacy, and the protection of the public sphere both as a discursive realm, and as a cultural space. Together they tackle the key questions facing free expression today: What does free expression mean in an age of global communications? How, if at all, can it be traded against other goods? Can free speech survive, given the growing awareness of its costs?

Originally published in 2006, the Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties, is a comprehensive 3 volume set covering a broad range of topics in the subject of American Civil Liberties. The book covers the topic from numerous different areas including freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition. The Encyclopedia also addresses areas such as the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, slavery, censorship, crime and war. The book’s multidisciplinary approach will make it an ideal library reference resource for lawyers, scholars and students.

With the popularity and ease-of-access to internet technologies, especially social networking, a number of human-centered issues has developed including internet addiction and cyber bullying. In an effort to encourage positive behavior, it is believed that applying gaming principles to non-gaming environments through gamification can assist in improving human interaction online. Gamification for Human Factors Integration: Social, Educational, and Psychological Issues presents information and best practices for promoting positive behavior online through gamification applications in social, educational, and psychological contexts. Through up-to-date research and practical applications, educators, academicians, information technology professionals, and psychologists will gain valuable insight into human-internet interaction and a possible solution for improving the relationship between society and technology.

"The texts in this volume represent earlier contributions to the ongoing conversation about the meaning of "the freedom of speech, and of the press," collected and selected to help the reader situate and understand what has gone on before and to advance the contemporary argument in a more informed way."--Introduction, page v.

More than 150 key social issues confronting the United States today are covered in this eight-volume set: from abortion and adoption to capital punishment and corporate crime; from obesity and organized crime to sweatshops and xenophobia.