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Exploring Free Speech in the Digital Age: A Conversation We Need to Have




In today’s hyperconnected world, conversations around free speech, technology, and responsible communication have never been more relevant—especially as we approach another U.S. presidential election season. As we’ve seen with high-profile figures whose rhetoric has the power to shape perspectives, incite action, and, at times, sow division.


My Master’s thesis focused on the complex nature of free speech, examining it as both a force for positive change and a potential weapon for harm. Through a deep dive into philosophical foundations and real-world case studies, like the Charlie Hebdo incident and The Dangerous Speech Project, I explored the question: How do we protect free expression without allowing it to become a tool of destruction?


Dangerous Speech is a critical concept in this dialogue. Unlike ‘hate speech,’ which is often broad and inconsistently defined, dangerous speech focuses specifically on rhetoric that increases the risk of violence. The Dangerous Speech Project, founded by Susan Benesch, provides a framework for identifying and responding to such speech without infringing on free speech rights. Here are the five main criteria it uses:

  1. Speaker: Is the message coming from an influential figure (e.g., politician, celebrity)?

  2. Audience: Is the audience vulnerable to inflammatory messages due to pre-existing fear or resentment?

  3. Message Hallmarks: Does the message contain dangerous patterns like:

    • Dehumanization: Comparing the target group to animals, insects, or diseases.

    • Accusation in a Mirror: Portraying the target group as a threat to make violence seem like self-defense.

    • Attacks on Women/Girls: Asserting that women or girls are at risk from the target group.

    • Coded Language: Using language that has hidden meanings to incite the audience.

    • Impurity/Contamination: Suggesting the target group will 'pollute' the purity of the audience’s community.

  4. Context: Are there underlying social or historical tensions (e.g., resource competition, past violence) that could make violence more acceptable?

  5. Medium: How influential is the platform through which the message is delivered?


For more on dangerous speech, check out The Dangerous Speech Project’s resources here and their guide on counter-speech, which advocates addressing harmful rhetoric with factual, compassionate responses instead of outright censorship.

In this series, I’ll explore key themes from my thesis, including:

  • The Duality of Free Speech: How something so fundamental to democracy can carry the potential for violence.

  • Historical & Philosophical Foundations: Insights from concepts like isegoria and parrhesia, and John Stuart Mill’s Harm Principle.

  • Case Studies in Dangerous Rhetoric: From Charlie Hebdo to modern political discourse, examining when free speech crosses the line.

  • Empathy and Responsibility: Why a societal shift toward empathy, compassion, and responsibility in speech is essential for democracy.


As communication technology evolves, so too must our understanding of free speech’s role in society.


Join me as we navigate these challenging yet crucial questions together.


References

Reminiscing Williams Productions

When I founded Williams Productions, it was always about more than just events. It was about building platforms where creativity, community, and connection could flourish. From 2013 to 2020, we brought artists, musicians, and audiences together across East Anglia, creating events that weren’t just entertaining—they were empowering.




One of the highlights of this journey was producing and hosting TONIGHT Live with Yogi, a talk show that celebrated the arts in East Anglia. Working alongside West Suffolk College, Mark Jones, Ursula Banks and a talented production team, we were able to create something special. That collaboration laid the foundation for what would become Digital Saint TV, a creative platform that gave the local arts community a voice.


While Digital Saint TV and West Suffolk College have since evolved into new ventures, what drives me to this day is the experience of building that platform—working with others toward a shared vision. It was about empowering people, bringing together creative minds, and giving a stage to stories that mattered.


In 2020, during the UK COVID lockdown, I took on the role of Client Communications & Public Relations Specialist to help launch the platform. It was a challenging time, but we made it happen—building partnerships and establishing relationships that helped creative voices thrive. This journey has made me more adaptable, resourceful, and deeply passionate about the power of collaboration.


At the core of everything I do is a belief in the power of relationships and community. I live for creating opportunities where people can connect, share, and grow. That’s the work I’m proud of, and it’s the work I’m excited to keep doing.



I Have the Power

Remember these sweet nothings? Power Balance Bracelets. They were marketed to athletes, high school kids, the elderly, busy moms, hip dads, and school campuses worldwide.





'These bands will improve your athleticism and give you perfect balance. You'll never fall over. Stand on one leg, try to push me over. Try and push my arms down. See it does work!'


This well-marketed placebo convinced folks that all they needed to do was to buy one, to put it on and their dreams would come true. For years we bought into it. Daring to do everyday feats with expert precision. Obviously, Power Balance bracelets are a con. There isn’t any real science to back up its claims, however, the truth lies in how it made people feel. Folks felt invincible. They swore by them. It was empowering to think that an attainable, affordable silicone rubber bracelet with holographic magical magnets would bring balance to a troubled tumultuous existence.


The bracelets highlighted an unfortunate aspect of modern living. Often, we get so caught up in believing that we need an extra ingredient to our concoction of happiness and success that we forget to give ourselves time, a chance, or even credit. Instead, we systematically take power from ourselves. Slowly removing pieces of what makes us who we are until we have become a discombobulated Frankenstein’s monster that’s lacking self-worth and can’t seem to function on its own merit. We become convinced that investing in an outside source will bring us the results we want.


Grift aside, in hindsight, Power Balance and other similar brands taught us a valuable lesson: The individual is the vessel of power. The catalyst for change. The principal agent in the chain reaction of making things happen. In reality, the Power Balance bracelets are akin to Micheal Jordan’s ‘Secret Stuff’ in Space Jam.


(*spoiler alert* MJ's secret stuff is tap water!)


The object itself is ordinary and alone has no magical properties. What gives the object (or idea) its power, is the belief, the focus, and the effort put forth by the one who wields it.

Or I’m completely wrong and the magnetic bracelets are really powered conduits similar to a magic wand, Mjolnir aka Thor’s hammer, or Micheal Jordan’s shoes in Like Mike.


(One of the most important items in the magical world, a wand.)


(The relationship between Thor and Mjolnir is worth an essay but no not today.)



(Like Mike staring Lil Bow Wow, Johnathan Lipnicki and Michael Jordan's shoes.)




Therapeutic effects of magnetic and copper bracelets in osteoarthritis: a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19942103/


 
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