About: freedom of speech

Freedom of press in Europe no longer self-evident

Up until recently, freedom of press was considered as a self-evidence in Europe. That is no longer the case, especially in several eastern European countries, where journalists have come under severe political pressure.

Facebook hit by landmark censorship lawsuit in Poland

A Polish NGO has filed a lawsuit against US-based social media giant Facebook, following concerns that the organisation's freedom of speech was stymied on the platform. The case is considered the first in Europe to address the issue of "private censorship".

Europe’s media freedom increasingly under attack, report warns

A "climate of impunity" has taken hold in parts of Europe, where media freedom is increasingly under attack, the annual report to the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists has warned.

Venezuela government targets Guaidó with probe, travel ban, asset freeze

Venezuela’s government struck back at self-declared interim president Juan Guaido with the Supreme Court imposing a travel ban and freeze on his bank accounts despite a warning from Washington of “serious consequences” if it did so.

Campaigners lock horns with EU justice chief on ‘hate speech’

EU Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová stood by the EU's principles that freedom of speech was not absolute at a panel discussion held in Brussels, saying that attempts to regulate hate speech were justified but her comments prompted a fierce debate. 

Freedom of expression in Europe: Who draws the line?

Hate speech laws are spreading in Europe as EU governments and international organisations try to find measures to defuse conflicts.

Polish President signs anti-defamation bill, causing international protests

Polish President Andrzej Duda signed on Tuesday (6 February) the controversial IPN Act, while at the same time referring it to the Constitutional Court for a final ruling. US officials have expressed disappointment over the Polish step, Ukraine lambasted the law and Israel declared it counts on “changes and amendments.” EURACTIV Poland reports.

Polish lawmakers back Holocaust bill, drawing Israeli outrage, US concern

Polish lawmakers approved a bill yesterday (1 February) that would impose jail terms for suggesting Poland was complicit in the Holocaust, drawing concern from the United States and outrage from Israel, which denounced "any attempt to challenge historical truth".

Jourova: ‘Never say never’ to EU hate speech law

Tech giants should share the technology they develop to detect hate speech with smaller companies, EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said in an interview.

Gabriel leading Commission effort against fake news ‘disease’

Fake news is a disease that European society needs to be “vaccinated” against, the EU's Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said as she opened a call for public comments on possible EU responses to the spread of false information on internet platforms.

A Ministry of Truth in the European Parliament?

The live-streaming of European Parliament debates, established some years ago, was a real step towards more democratic participation and transparency. But the EU assembly is now apparently having second thoughts, writes Sophia Kuby.

Africa’s dwindling online freedom

Africa is using the internet more and more but many governments are employing web blackouts to manipulate voters and silence critics. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Is the EU abandoning freedom of speech in its trade deals?

The EU has in recent years used trade agreements as a venue for promoting human rights, notably freedom of speech. Yet, as trade negotiators seek to wrap up the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), the EU seems to have abandoned this objective, write Jodie Ginsberg and Christian Borggreen.

European Parliament expresses concern over media pluralism in France

Media freedom and pluralism in several EU countries is degrading, according to a European Parliament report, which focussed on France and six other countries. EURACTIV France reports.

Council of Europe: Turkey must separate coup plotters from Gülen employees

Turkey must produce clear evidence in pursuing participants in a failed coup and avoid targeting teachers and journalists simply because they worked for firms run by the Muslim cleric Ankara portrays as its mastermind, the head of the European rights watchdog said Thursday (8 September).

Erdogan loses appeal against German media boss

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan lost a German court battle against a top media boss today (21 June) when his appeal in a bitter row over free speech was thrown out.

Action needed as press freedom under attack in Europe

Free speech is a fundamental value for our democratic society in Europe, yet still it is under threat across Europe as restrictions on press freedom creep into our lives, writes Max von Abendroth.

Germany will prosecute comedian who mocked Turkish president

Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday (14 April) that Germany has accepted a request from Turkey to seek prosecution of a German comedian who read out a sexually crude poem about Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan on German television.

Merkel stresses free speech in Germany-Turkey satire spat

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday spoke about the importance of free speech as Berlin weighs a Turkish request to prosecute a German TV satirist who crudely insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish reporters back in court for press freedom case

The controversial trial of two well-known Turkish journalists enters its second day Friday (1 April) in a case seen as a test of press freedom under the increasingly autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Juncker defends Belgium from Erdogan accusation of supporting terror groups

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker criticised the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in front of his Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and a packed pressroom today (18 March), at the end of a two-day summit which adopted join EU-Turkish decisions to stem the migrant crisis.

Poles protest media law, wave EU flag

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities around Poland on Saturday (9 January) to protest against a new law giving the conservative government control of state media.

Piotr M. Kaczy?ski: The attack on Charlie Hebdo was an attack on Europe

With the exception of Martin Schulz, European leaders missed their opportunity to be heard by citizens following the Paris attacks, Piotr M. Kaczy?ski told EURACTIV Czech Republic in an exclusive interview.