Hate Speech and Social Media

Abstract

It has become usual to distinguish between a culture of dignity, with large expression in Europe, and a culture of freedom, dominant in the USA, as the two possible horizons to deal with hate speech issues. This differentiation, besides constituting an expedient that evades the increasing need for a strong affirmation of freedom of expression, is becoming largely irrelevant due to the development of a tendency for hate speech self-regulation by the private entities that own the platforms and infrastructures of social networks. Hate speech self-regulation tends to be shaped by an economic model and is potentially controlled by algorithms that escape democratic controls. Instead, the specific political value of freedom of expression should be highlighted as a more consistent basis in its confrontation with other constitutional rights and interests.