Freedom of speech vs. Hate speech: where is the line on social media?
Articles
Neda Upertaitė
Vilnius University image/svg+xml
Liepa Tamošiūnaitė
Vilnius University image/svg+xml
Victor Terekhov
Vilnius University image/svg+xml
Published 2026-10-20
https://doi.org/10.15388/TMP.2026.33
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Keywords

freedom
freedom of expression
hate speech
social media
restriction
human rights restrictions

Abstract

This article examines the concept of freedom of speech and its significance in a democratic society. It discusses how freedom of speech, as one of the fundamental/ inherent human rights, is not unlimited and must be restricted in order to ensure order and satisfy the interests of society. The boundary between freedom and hate speech is extremely thin, so, drawing on case law and the views of researchers and practitioners, we examine the distinction between these phenomena and the challenges that arise when applying legal measures to restrict hate speech while seeking to maintain a balance between freedom of expression and the protection of society.

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References

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