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According to the Law Dictionary, freedom of expression is the right to say what
you want through any media, as long it doesn't harm t.he "character of
reputation" of another individual. Freedom of expression is protected in the U.S.
by the first amendment.

Especially with the rise of the internet, freedom of expression may allow for the
easy spread of false information or lies. One example is the idea that vaccines
lead to autism, a piece of misinformation that is dangerous and yet does not
harm the character of any particular person. While it might be protected speech,
it is untrue and can lead to unvaccinated children getting or transmitting
preventable diseases.

Further, freedom of expression can often lead to defamation of character. Though


perpetrators may later be forced to retract their statements, the damage may
already have been done.

Freedom of expression protects speech that some argue can incite physical
violence against other groups, such as hate speech towards an ethnic group
leading to killing members of that group or violent pornography encouraging
violence against women.

Freedom of expression creates its own paradox: a society doesn't truly have
freedom of speech if people are not allowed to make assertions that are
distasteful or unpopular to the bulk of the population, yet these statements can
be hurtful to others.

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