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The Humanist Association of Toronto
http://www.humanisttoronto.ca/

Every Saturday we meet on Zoom to discuss a topic decided upon the previous week. These are topics of humanist interest, from a humanist perspective.

The topic of the discussion will be decided in a prior meeting, usually two weeks in advance. This week’s topic is: The Limits of Free Speech in the West, introduced by Karen Lynn.

Prepared with assistance from AI

Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right, but it is not absolute. Globally, legal frameworks—including the First Amendment in the United States and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms—permit governments to limit expression to protect public safety, individual rights, and societal order. [1, 2, 3]
Commonly accepted limitations and boundaries on free speech include:

  1. Incitement and Violence: Speech that poses a direct, imminent threat to public safety or incites violence is prohibited. In the U.S., this is often defined by the "imminent lawless action" standard.
  2. True Threats and Intimidation: Statements where the speaker means to communicate a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group are not protected.
  3. Defamation (Libel and Slander): Making false statements of fact that cause material harm to another person's reputation, livelihood, or character can lead to civil lawsuits.
  4. Fighting Words: Words that by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace are generally unprotected.
  5. Obscenity and Child Exploitation: Material that appeals primarily to a prurient interest, is patently offensive by community standards, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value can be restricted. Child sexual abuse material is illegal without exception.
  6. Hate Speech: Many democracies outside the U.S. (such as Canada, under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) place strict criminal or human rights limits on speech that promotes hatred, discrimination, or violence against protected groups.
  7. Fraud and Perjury: Lying under oath, deceptive advertising, or intentionally defrauding others for personal or financial gain are punishable offenses.
  8. Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions: Governments can regulate when, where, and how speech occurs (e.g., prohibiting megaphones in residential neighborhoods at 2:00 AM or requiring permits for large protests). These rules must be content-neutral.
  9. Intellectual Property and Confidentiality: Copyright violations, plagiarism, and the unauthorized disclosure of classified government secrets or corporate trade secrets are restricted. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Any limitation on free speech must typically be narrowly tailored, legally defined, and serve a compelling public interest. In many jurisdictions, laws must also demonstrate that the limitation is proportional and justifiable in a free and democratic society. [1, 2, 3]

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Compared to the United States, Canada's regulatory environment is markedly protective of net neutrality. This is credited to the country's regulatory structure, existing laws, bipartisan agreement on the issue, and the uncompetitive nature of the Canadian telecom market, which necessitates tight regulation
The United Nations defines free speech as a fundamental human right, protecting the freedom to hold opinions and seek, receive, and impart information through any media. However, this right is not absolute; it must be balanced against principles of equality and prohibitions against incitement to violence. [1, 2]
Articles:
Should Free Speech Have Limitations? | Psychology Today May 2026
Charterpedia www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/rfc-dlc/ccrf-ccdl/check/art2b.html
The United Nations www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Freedom of speech is not an absolute. On page 1 there are 9 descriptions of violations and restrictions that may be imposed by governments including the United Nations. What are the benefits of free speech? What are the risks
  2. Are bigots entitled to the same degree of freedom of speech as are those who believe in equality for all?
  3. In the past, some schoolboards forbade the teaching of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (saying that it is antisemitic). Do you agree? What are the advantages and disadvantages of teaching such literature to teenagers?
  4. Gaslighting. Read Examples of Gaslighting Phrases Used To Confuse And Control What are some examples of gaslighting when discussing issues of freedom of speech?
  5. How does freedom of speech contribute to the benefit of civilization?

Meet our diverse group, trade perspectives in a free and open forum and learn from others as they learn from you!

BTW: don't be concerned if there are not many RSVP’s. Many HAT members attend regularly but don’t sign up on Meetup. Our online meetings have been very popular with 20-30 attendees.

NOTE: The HAT Forum adheres strictly to the City of Toronto Policy on Non-Discrimination (http://www.the519.org/public/content/policy-files/The519SpaceUsePolicy.pdf)

Our Website (http://www.humanisttoronto.ca/)

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