Title of the Issue: Freedom of Expression and Censorship

Title of the Article: Freedom of Speech in Press and Censorship

Source: Internet (Google Scholar)
Author: Ivy Keane

Summary Narrative:
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right that must be upheld in democratic
societies. A fundamental principle of a Journalist is the ability to access information and in doing
so.Yet governments are jeopardizing the confidentiality of journalists’ sources through increased
surveillance of peoples’ telecommunications metadata. Metadata is not the content of communications,
but the details around it – the sites you visit and how long, the phone calls you made, how long and the
time. Also there are some case where the government interferes in the media because there are some
information that cannot be leaked because it may cause harm in the government, in the community or
in the individual. But the fact that the data was retain without informing the sources might give that
person the thought that he might be under the surveillance for releasing such information and can
cause panic. That is why the censorship is there to protect the metadata and cannot defame the
government, society or an individual.

What lesson have you learned?

Freedom of expression is a human right that must be practice in some cases. But there is a time
where you can’t just say what you want to say or express what you want to express. There is a limit for
everything. That is why some of the news that roam around is incomplete because there are some
information that was taken out to protect the government or the source. Also using the freedom of
expression one can easily defame others.

What suggestions can you offer?

Make the Metadata Retention Law stronger and punish them according to what they did. As for
the individuals – discipline in releasing information and know your limits.

Submitted by:
BSED-Mathematics 1