But is free speech really under threat? Countries without free speech tend to have it written into law or otherwise enforced by the state. The trouble with the free speech defence is that it works to shut down any argument against it. You can tack free speech on to any crackpot prejudice you have and suddenly you’re a lone truth-teller standing up to the hordes. It’s a clever rhetorical trick, the free speech defence.

Source: The Guardian June 23, 2019 08:11 UTC