COMM 202 WTCC Championing Freedom of Expression Discussion – Description
COMM 202
1.) Kayla Grooms
Many in the US know about the first Amendment that solidifies one’s right to free speech. However, there is another right that is similar and pertains to the freedom of speech that was implemented in other countries such as the UK and Canada and is listed as a human right. This right is of course the Freedom of expression which was implemented by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The Article 10 of the Human Rights Act Freedom of expression is the right to be able to express one’s thoughts and ideas verbally, in writing, or other means of communication (Barendt, 2008). This Act basically protects one’s rights to say what they want to regardless if it is in agreeance or not to any particular thing without the fear of being prosecuted in law. This means that if you do not like a certain political party you are free to talk and post about it on media without getting in trouble.
While this is a protected act there are some limitations to it that should be acknowledged. First of all, “The ECHR allows states to impose restrictions on the exercise of freedom of expression, provided they are necessary to further one of the stated aims, for example, national security, public order, morality, the reputation and rights of others, and the authority of the courts” (Barendt, 2008). Examples of this would include defamation and threatening to do harm upon other’s. Secondly, professional institutions can impose certain restrictions whomever associates themselves with the company (Barendt, 2008). Schools are the number one example for this with their restrictions on what can be worn, advertised, or said within the halls. This includes both teachers and students.
While many in the US know about the First Amendment that protects our rights to free speech, not a lot realize that the rest of the world at the time did not have the same right. That was until the ECHR all came together to grant the right to free expression to become a human right all across Europe. This means that unless there is absolute need, no one can stop a person from sharing their ideas or thoughts to the public in every country under the ECHR including the US.
Resource:
Barendt, E. (2008). freedom of expression. In The New Oxford Companion to Law. : Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2 Jul. 2023, from https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199290543.001.0001/acref-9780199290543-e-930.
2.) Nya Hamilton
I discovered a lot about press freedom in this week’s readings. “In the United States, press freedom is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution” (Kaid, Holtz-Bacha, 2008). According to (Editors, 2017), the origins of American free press beliefs can be found in Cato’s Letters, a volume of essays that criticized the British political system and was widely disseminated in pre-Revolutionary America. British writers John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon are responsible for the articles. Between 1720 and 1723, they were printed in publications under the pseudonym Cato. The articles criticized the British government for its oppression and corruption. Press freedom is crucial because it enables people the freedom to express their opinions in the media. Media does not necessarily mean that it operates just through newspapers or TV channels , magazines and books may be used. Everyone has the freedom of the press, which allows them to express their opinions on matters they believe were unjustified. The right to freedom of the press enables us to communicate with both the general public and our political leaders. It encourages us to participate in the public affairs of the nation. Overall, press freedom offers us a voice to contribute to the growth of our nation.
References:
History.com Editors. (2017, December 7). Freedom of the press. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/united-states-constitution/freedom-of-the-press
Kaid, L. L., & Holtz-Bacha, C. (Eds.) (2008). . (Vols. 1-2). SAGE Publications, Inc., https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412953993
CMIS 111
1.) Cheton Jackson
I use google chrome as my default web browser. As I went through the security settings, I see that mine are sent to have the standard protection for safe browsing which detects and warns you about dangerous event when they happen, checks URLs with a list of unsafe sites and of sites try to steal my password. It also protects against websites and harmful downloads. I have use secure DNS which helps to determine how to connect to websites over secure connections. I make sure to not save my passwords or personal information to anything as well to keep my information secure. I would say I didn’t know about the safe check which looks pretty good and can help to make sure things as up to date. This is something I will definitely keep using in the future.
2.) Eric Cobb
I currently rely on Google Chrome as my primary internet browser due to its user-friendly interface. In addition to its seamless performance, I find great value in using other Google services such as Gmail and Google Drive. To enhance my online security, I have chosen to enable Enhanced Protection, which offers a higher level of security. This feature provides proactive protection by promptly notifying users about potentially dangerous websites, downloads, and extensions. Moreover, it alerts me if any of my passwords have been compromised in a data breach.
To further fortify my account security, I have implemented two-step authentication, which requires me to verify and approve logins from my phone. Additionally, I have taken measures to safeguard my privacy by blocking cookies from third-party sources. These cookies can potentially be exploited to steal sensitive information or gain unauthorized access to my computer (Halder, 2023). Furthermore, I ensure that my browser does not store any of my passwords to minimize the risk of data breaches.
While working, especially when handling sensitive information, I prioritize my online safety by utilizing a VPN provided by OpenVPN. This VPN encrypts the data I access, adding an extra layer of protection to my online activities. Additionally, I have integrated the Norton browser extension into my setup for an additional layer of security.
While I believe I have implemented sufficient measures to protect myself online, I recently discovered a few additional precautions during my research. One vital recommendation is to always use the HTTPS protocol when available. HTTPS ensures that the data transmitted is encrypted and protected, whereas HTTP is an unsecured connection susceptible to various attacks (Halder, 2023). By adhering to this practice, I can further enhance my online security and protect my personal information.
In conclusion, I am diligent in safeguarding my online presence and privacy. Through a combination of security features in Google Chrome, two-step authentication, cookie blocking, password management practices, VPN usage, and additional browser extensions, I maintain a robust defense against potential threats. Nonetheless, I remain open to learning more and adopting further security measures to stay ahead of evolving online risks.
References
Halder, K. (2023, March 28). Browse The Web Safely: Ultimate Guide To Secure Google Chrome. GeekFlare. Retrieved July 2, 2023, from https://geekflare.com/secure-google-chrome/
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