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Balancing Acts: The Tightrope Walk of Free Speech and Hate Speech

Sweden is a country known for its strong press freedom, in fact, it was the first country to write freedom of press into its constitution!

The Freedom of Press Act of 1766 made it the law of the land that the government and other authorities be transparent and held accountable. The law also outlined strong protections for journalists, protecting sources and ensuring journalists are never forced to jeopardize their source's safety. In Reporters Without Borders’ 2023 ranking , Sweden came in fourth place for press freedom.

While the right to express an opinion is important, it is not without limits. Freedom of speech, when misused, can lead to offensive language, encourage discrimination, incite violence, or result in detrimental effects on individuals and society, such as the recent burnings of sacred religious texts in Stockholm. To address suspected violations of the freedom of press or expression laws, the responsibility lies with the non-political Office of the Chancellor of Justice.

by Julia Powanda/Riedia