Freedom of Speech

Learn about the importance of freedom of speech and assembly through Greta Thunberg's inspiring climate activism, in this 4:52 minute long video lesson.

Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the liberty to articulate opinions without fear of retaliation or censorship. While the idea is old — John Milton argued that a marketplace of ideas should be as open and free as possible in 1644 — it took until 1948 before freedom of speech gained global recognition via the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations. But what exactly is it, what statements are protected by it, and which ones aren't?

SUPPORT us to make more videos on social science!

DOWNLOAD video without ads and background music 🤫:

SIGN UP to our mailing list and never miss a new video from us 🔔:

SOURCES and teaching resources 🎓:

VISIT our website

CONTRIBUTE by upvoting your favorite topic or suggesting new ones :

THANKS to our patrons

COLLABORATORS
Script: Nicole Leifeld
Editor: Jonas Koblin
Artist: Pascal Gaggelli
Voice: Matt Abbott
Coloring: Nalin
Editing: Peera Lertsukittipongsa
Production: Selina Bador
Proofreading: Susan
Sound Design: Miguel Ojeda

SOUNDTRACKS
Nice Toys - Studio Le Bus
Midnight Mischief - Jonathan Boyle

DIG DEEPER with these top videos, games and resources:
Look at this list of all older and current protests around the globe.

Does espionage enter under the protection of free speech rights? Learn about the famous case of Schnek vs United States

Watch the full documentary about free speech activist Edward Snowden

Watch the full documentary about Reddit founder and internet activist Aaron Schwarz

SOURCES

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
Visit our website to learn more on suggested activity on this topic!

CHAPTER
00:00 Introduction
01:19 What is Freedom of speech?
01:44 Understand the scope
02:14 Limitation
03:49 Conclusion
04:25 Patron credits
04:35 Ending

#sproutslearning #freedomofspeech #censorship #opinion

[ShawnRavenfire]

Insulting people can be legally protected because it's an opinion as well. The only exceptions are provable defamation of character (libel or slander). That's why journalists can be sued if they fail to fact-check what they say about a public figure, but stand-up comedians can say whatever they want.

Some other forms of "speech" that are not legal are inciting panic, conspiracy to commit a crime, copyright infringement... Probably other things that I'll think of later. (There are also FCC rules about using swearwords on television using wireless transmitters during daylight hours, but most of those rules are just silly.)

[jamysmith]

Media needs to be held fully accountable to its motivations and show a clear separation of facts and opinions, and broadened context

Practically all abridgment to speech is made by the reactionary inter course of our poorly informed peers

[AusWolf]

Having an opinion is fine, but one should also have the wisdom to know when it is and isn't appropriate to voice it, and listeners to know the distinction between opinion and fact.

[GrayKuma]

Stating "Untrue" facts is certainly protected.
Something is only untrue OR true until proven otherwise.

[freesk]

Freesdom of speech comes NOT from governments. It is part of your natural right to liberty, which comes from the simple fact that each individual adult owns their own body and life. You have a natural right to do whatever you want, so long as you are not violating the rights to life, liberty or property of another person. That's your right to liberty. Good governments defend this natural right. Bad ones violate it. That's how we know the difference between good governments and bad ones.

[EugeneKhutoryansky]

This is not correct. Freedom of speech also means that people can say things which are factually incorrect, except for cases of defamation of character. The problem with prohibiting people from saying things which are factually incorrect is that things which were once thought to be irrefutable facts turned out not to be true. Science advances by challenging the accepted paradigm. Even a new idea which turns out to be wrong can be beneficial, in that it may stimulate others to come up with theories that revolutionize our understanding of the Universe.

[wiseone]

Where was it said that freedom of speech doesn't allow for insulting others? Citation needed. Of course insulting others is protected speech; that is the opinion of the person and must be protected at all cost.

[cheeseburgeroptimus]

Message of the video - If our fact disagrees with yours, we can censor it. If you insult someone we can censor it.

[mohsenrazzaghi]

فکر میکنم وظیفه همه ماست که به عقاید و اعتقادات یکدیگر احترام بگذاریم تا حدی که با «اخلاق انسانی منافاتی نداشته باشد» و این قید بسیار مهم است.

[stephenthompson]

Whoa-ho-hoaaa! Really just blitzed through that part about "insulting someone is not protected under free speech." Really? Why not?
Let's assume it's true for a moment. What makes a statement an insult? Is it when the person making it intends to say something negative about another party? Or is it when a person being talked about declares that the other party has spoken negatively about them? Under either definition, how can Greta Thunberg's accusations against money-hungry corporations be considered free speech? Are there not others insulted by that assertion?

[ernieroberts]

At 2:29 time, one can state something is a fact when it is not. There are people that lie oll the time. It's not something that should be done, but it can be done.

[tristanquezadadiaz]

Some people just can't stand an opinion about something or someone that is different from theirs

[Ghibli-Jedi]

This didn't answer my question. I want to know how much you can say that people dislike. Anything that can be said or thought will inevitably offend someone, no matter your intentions. So, where do we set the boundaries? Socially, it depends on which ideology is popular, conservative during the Cold War and liberal today. Legally, where are the limits?

[rvart]

if there are limitations like listed, unverified information or insults, then freedom of speech can be easily manipulated and violated by the opposing views of a particular speech who will claim they are offended/insulted or the questionable/arguable information is false... these are not and should NEVER BE considered unprotected speech, IN A FREE SOCIETY there should be freedom of expression oneself with speech as long as it does not DIRECTLY PHYSICALLY hurts others.

[mrobin]

Greta who benefited from free speech is not giving the same courtesy to the scientists and people that disagree with her and her dogma.

[anga]

well if anything untrue is not protected, then big corporations shouldn't lie right? or politicians for that matter?

[the-other-side]

when you speak freedomly which is correct in some cases, you have to give up on other's emotions sometimes. 'cause in the end you shouldn't talk freely to someone you know they can be broken easily. that's why you learn when to talk and to who. but the most important thing is to give your opinion on something respectedly without keep insulting it too much, so whoever can put 'your opinion' in mind

[BroncoJoeAK]

I have to say, I don’t like her ideas but I do respect her commitment.

[brndxt]

More important is the Freedom of Thought, without which Freedom of Speech will become less meaningful.

For example, when one can ONLY think well of one's dear leader, or else the gulag, what is the use of freedom of speech even if one is free to praise the dear leader anytime and anywhere?

[Miranox]

Greta got attention thanks to the connections of her rich parents.