Dr Asangba Tzudir
In any democratic and civilized societies, the freedom of speech is like a foundation stone that is enshrined not just in constitutions, but also in the collective consciousness of the people. It is the bedrock of free expression and exchange of ideas. But contrary to Sartre’s idea of freedom where he said that the limit of freedom is freedom itself, this freedom in relation to speech and expression is not without boundaries and where the right to speak is also about the right not to be wronged or defamed and which creates a very acute tension.
Defamation, whether libel or slander, also implies and give recognition that words have power not only to inspire, but also to injure or cause hurt to the extent of destroying one's reputation, and so it is important to be mindful of the threshold by drawing a line between the 'sayable' and the 'unsayable', between protecting speech and reputations. What is so delicate about the free speech is that putting restrictions on it threatens democratic ethos. However, expressions when unchecked or empowered can really escalate into deadly weapons causing serious harm and injury to others. And in this age of digital and social media, the pace at which news and information travels is such that it can easily go beyond control, and the consequences on life can be dire. So, one must tread carefully by understanding the context of the situation as well as the speech itself before it is put out in the open.
In this age of technology and social media, it serves as a channel to disseminate news and information, and to share thoughts and opinions. The power of the narrative is such that, while it democratizes discourses in allowing anyone to voice out their opinions, it also enables unchecked spread of falsehoods and mis-presented narratives. It is not simply about the falsehoods or misinformation but the danger lies in the spreading of a wrong narrative with such quickness and which is strategic, persuasive and persistent, can easily distort truth or reality, thereby ‘legitimating’ or endorsing falsehoods or comfortable half-truths while turning into popular narratives. In the pursuit of stories, a compelling narrative especially one that is aligned with our biases can easily override facts or truths. But whatever the context, the legal lens will go by the truth or falsity of the statement, and whether there was any malicious or vindictive intent.
Caught between free speech and defamation, the idea is not to curtail speech, nor to allow reputations to be destroyed with impunity. Instead, as a marker of civility we need robust legal standards, so also a culture that tries to understand truth over virality and beyond ones biases. Today, media literacy can play a crucial role in accessing, analyzing, evaluating, and which will help one act responsibly towards even recalibrating important public discourse.
While freedom of speech must remain sacred, its sanctity does not lie in its absoluteness, but in a shared understanding, that freedom, like language, thrives best when wielded with care, concern and a truth that is attached with responsibility.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
