Book

Description

In an era defined by digital connectivity, the question of where free speech ends and hate speech begins has become increasingly complex. The internet, while democratizing the expression of ideas, has also become a platform for polarization, misinformation, and speech that often tests the limits of legality and ethics. This book, Hate Speech and Freedom of Speech in an Online Environment, emerges from the pressing need to examine this tension from both a legal and societal perspective. The purpose of this work is to provide a critical, yet balanced, analysis of the evolving contours of free speech and its intersection with the growing concern over hate speech in digital spaces. We explore how different legal systems, especially in democratic societies like India, the United States, and the European Union, address this challenge. We also analyze key judicial decisions, legislative developments, and policy debates that define the boundaries of permissible speech in the online environment. The book is designed to benefit law students, researchers, academicians, policymakers, and digital rights advocates who are keen to understand the dynamic relationship between liberty and responsibility in cyberspace. By combining doctrinal analysis with contemporary case studies, we aim to foster informed discourse and contribute meaningfully to the literature on constitutional freedoms and internet governance.