With the rise of the Internet, the opportunities to express oneself have grown exponentially,

as have the challenges to freedom of expression. From the Arab Spring to the global Occupy

movement, freedom of expression on the Internet has had a profound impact on the debates

which shape our future. At the same time, an increasing number of states use the Internet to spy

on journalists and citizens, to prosecute and jail bloggers, and to censor online information.

This book sets out to answer essential questions regarding the extent and limits of freedom of

expression online. It seeks to shed light on the often obscure landscape of what we are allowed

to say online and how our ideas, and the process of imparting and receiving information,

are protected.

It shows the large ambit of rights protected by freedom of expression - including freedom

of the media and the right to access information via the Internet. It also highlights the

importance of the standard-setting, monitoring and promotion activities of international

and non-governmental organisations, with a chapter on relevant national practices that

illustrates how different states deal with the challenge that the Internet has brought to

ensuring freedom of expression for all. As the importance of the Internet in our daily lives

grows, readers will find this book to be a valuable resource for understanding the rights and

obligations of each actor on the Internet, including states, Internet companies and civil society.