Media

Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson faces investigation over reported ‘non-crime hate incident’

Free speech in the first world is, at times, a bizarrely dystopian experience. The original FSU in the UK, to whom FSU SA is affiliated on the International Association of Free Speech, has strictures of freedom of speech that South Africans would look aghast at. No more than the application of the Orwellian concept of the Non-crime Hate Incident (NCHI). An NCHI is a "non-crime" but can show up on an enhanced criminal records check! Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson is facing an investigation over such a bizarre allegation.

Lecture: Should hate speech be against the law?

Advocate Mark Oppenheimer unpacks the arguments for and against hate speech being criminalised. He uses reference to court cases and events that illustrate his arguments. Articulate and thorough - well worth listening to.

INVITATION: Should hate speech be against the law? A lecture by Adv. Mark Oppenheimer

The 45TH HOERNLÉ MEMORIAL LECTURE presented by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), in association with the Free Speech Union of South Africa, will be given by the Chairman of the IRR, Advocate Mark Oppenheimer. Please see details for responding to this invitation.

Press release: Freedom of speech at risk as UCT places guest lecture “on hold”

The 2024 Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture was to be delivered on 17 October by alumnus Claudius Senst, the chief executive of Bild newspaper, Germany’s largest daily by circulation. However, one day before the event the university announced that it had decided to put the event on ice “to allow for further discussions” in the light of “deep concerns” expressed by “stakeholders”. FSU SA is concerned that a postponed event will become a cancelled event, and that once again UCT will have caved to the anti-free speech lobby. We urge the Vice-Chancellor to uphold the right for the divergence of opinions.

John Kerry wants to end free speech

The worst assault on free speech by the climate change lobby has just come from John Kerry, unsuccesful presidential candidate in 2004 election, Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017 and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate from 2021 to March 2024. Addressing a world audience at the World Economic Forum, he attacked the First Amendment of the American Constitution as a "major block" to "hammer it [disinformation] out of existence".

Webinar: The war in free speech goes global

The first online meeting of the International Associations of Free Speech Unions - UK, New Zealand and Australia discuss the threats to free speech across the English-speaking world.

FSU’s Sara Gon on how to cool SA’s heat generated by freedom of speech (especially on social media) - BizNews interview

The right to speak freely is foundational to a successful society, but the user bears the responsibility for how the right is exercised. Should social media platforms have to curate content that the whole world is free to publish on? Aren't they really no different from a telephone, a television set or a radio? Rather like a global message board, to be used at your peril.

How Zuckerberg censored Covid on Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg says he shouldn't have caved in to the Biden administration's pressure to censor information about Covid on Facebook and Instagram during Covid. Too right!