The EU has adopted specific EU Guidelines on freedom of expression online and offline. 

Technological innovations in information and communications technology have created new opportunities for individuals to share their opinion with a mass audience and have enhanced political participation and access to information. However, innovations have also brought new challenges, such as online censorship, hate speech and surveillance. Narratives about “fake news” and disinformation campaigns affect our ability to form an opinion independently.

All human rights that exist offline must also be protected online. Against the background of EU measures to tackle online disinformation, a number of large online platforms such as Facebook, Google, Twitter have agreed with the EU on self-regulatory Codes of Conduct on Hate Speech and Disinformation.

All human rights that exist offline must also be protected online. Against the background of EU measures to tackle online disinformation, a number of large online platforms such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter have agreed with the EU on self-regulatory Codes of Conduct on Hate Speech and Disinformation.

Academic freedom is another fundamental freedom grounded in several civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including freedom of opinion and expression, the right to education, and the right to the benefits of science. It is vital to democratic pluralism, as well as to the modernisation, scientific advancement and sustainable development of societies. 

The EU Action Plan on Democracy and Human Rights 2020-2027 commits to supporting “action to protect academic freedom, the autonomy of education institutions, as well as their capacity to provide online and distance learning.” Many countries witness a worrying trend of attacks on the academic community. The EU may consider academics and scholars at risk as human rights defenders warranting protection.