Our Free Speech Hub revamped
Since it was first launched the free speech scenario has evolved to be more multi-faceted than before, requiring a redesign of the hub as a resource site.
A HOOT editorial.
In 2010, when we launched the Free Speech Hub, the issues came flying at us thick and fast. Barely had we begun to put together a body of information and expertise on one issue when another would claim attention. In the recent past, we have had to grapple with a gamut of free speech issues – from censorship and the killings, attacks and threats to journalists, artists, civil liberties’ activists, or filmmakers.
Books have been banned, theatre shows or art exhibitions disrupted and sedition, defamation and contempt are increasingly used as tools to silence free expression. Hate speech cases have forced us to debate the contours of free speech. Instances of online censorship are on the rise with arrests and cases of all manner of Internet users – from cartoons, Facebook posts or tweets. Violations of privacy and surveillance have also increased and we debate the balance between the two and the checks on their misuse. Not a day passes when we don’t discuss some aspect of free speech or the other.
Through all this, our endeavor to be a hub of information, research and reports has been more than realised by the number of articles and reports we have managed to put together. The Free Speech Tracker, an integral part of the Free Speech Hub, monitors free speech issues across India and the Free Speech Reports, based on this data, provide compelling evidence of the way in which our right to freedom of expression is being chipped away on a daily basis.
Since it was first launched the free speech scenario has evolved to be more multi-faceted than before, requiring a redesign of the hub as a resource site. Its major features have been improved upon. The Free Speech Tracker has been designed to display major categories – deaths, attacks, threats, censorship, culture, sedition, defamation, contempt, hate speech etc. So, you get a complete record of the instances in these categories in the Free Speech Tracker since 2010.
We have introduced a special section “Our Take’ which provides a quick, cogent comment of current events even as they unfold. While we continue to bring articles from experts, we will also provide links to reports on free speech issues from around the globe. The picture gallery and videos provide a visual archive of freedom of expression around the world.
Apart from displaying existing services and resources such as our Hoot Helpline, the press laws guide, FAQs on data security and the cyber rights FAQs, check out our cyber media literacy kit which provides backgrounders to the Information Technology Act and has a timeline on online censorship in India.
For regular updates you can also follow @FreeSpeechHub on Twitter.
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