Censorship and Free Speech - LAWS3042 |
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Description This course deals with the laws which prohibit the publication of material on the ground that it is deemed to offend some community standard, such as racial tolerance or respect for religious sensibilities. These laws are evaluated in the light of legal, political and philosophical principles of freedom of speech. Topics include: the concept of freedom of speech; legal protection of freedom of speech; laws directed against vilification on grounds of gender, race or religion; censorship on grounds of obscenity or pornography; the law of blasphemy. Attention is paid to the operation of the relevant laws in practice, to the impact of new technologies of communication and to theoretical, historical, comparative and policy aspects of the various topics.
Note: This course will be taught during the second half of Session 2. |