MEETING FIVE –
FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE, RELIGION, EXPRESSION, ASSEMBLY AND
ASSOCIATION
Freedom of expression
- What kind of speech is protected by Article 10 of the Convention?
All forms of expression are included, through any medium: this includes paintings, books,
cartoons, films, video-recordings, statements in radio interviews, information pamphlets and
the internet; and with any content, including incitement to hatred, and pornography.
- What kind of categorisation can you make between the different contents of speech?
Political speech.
Artistic speech.
Commercial speech.
- To what extent is commercial advertising protected by Article 10 of the Convention?
For commercial advertising, there’s a lower degree of protection because it has a large
margin of appreciation. For example states are allowed to prohibit advertising for cigarettes.
But when there is public interest involved, there is a narrower margin of appreciation. See
case of Barthold v Germany: the Court said the restriction was too strict. There was a public
interest because he could really help the animals and he was the only one offering help to
animals at night.
- What is the role of the press?
The press acts as a public watchdog in a democratic society. Although they must not
overstep certain bounds and may be regulated, they have a duty nevertheless to impart
information and ideas on all matters of public interest.
- What are the limitations on the freedom of the press? Compare in this respect the
protection offered to publications on public matters with the protection of those
relating to private matters.
When the press is no longer functioning as the public watchdog in a democratic society and
they go too far, there are limitations possible. It’s about public matters that the press can
report about. The Court makes a distinction between valued judgments and statements of
facts. The difference is that valued judgments are still opinions and cannot be proved.
Statements of facts need to be proved by the defendant.
A politician must take more criticism than other people. It is not just the State that has to be
tolerant. The limits of acceptable criticism are wide in regard to all politicians, whether or not
they are in the government, because they knowingly lay themselves open to the scrutiny of
the press and public publications on private matters.
There is a good protection for the private life of civil servants though. Would you get
protection if you insult a civil servant? Polish case.
A private person must take less criticism than politicians publications relating to private
matters.
To what extend can press write about the private life of a celebrity? Von Hannover v
Germany I case. She was complaining about a series of reports taken of her in a private
setting. There were lots of photos taken secretly. In the first case there was no violation of
Article 8. The Court drew a fundamental distinction between the reporting of facts capable of
contributing to a debate in a democratic society relating to politicians in the exercise of their
FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE, RELIGION, EXPRESSION, ASSEMBLY AND
ASSOCIATION
Freedom of expression
- What kind of speech is protected by Article 10 of the Convention?
All forms of expression are included, through any medium: this includes paintings, books,
cartoons, films, video-recordings, statements in radio interviews, information pamphlets and
the internet; and with any content, including incitement to hatred, and pornography.
- What kind of categorisation can you make between the different contents of speech?
Political speech.
Artistic speech.
Commercial speech.
- To what extent is commercial advertising protected by Article 10 of the Convention?
For commercial advertising, there’s a lower degree of protection because it has a large
margin of appreciation. For example states are allowed to prohibit advertising for cigarettes.
But when there is public interest involved, there is a narrower margin of appreciation. See
case of Barthold v Germany: the Court said the restriction was too strict. There was a public
interest because he could really help the animals and he was the only one offering help to
animals at night.
- What is the role of the press?
The press acts as a public watchdog in a democratic society. Although they must not
overstep certain bounds and may be regulated, they have a duty nevertheless to impart
information and ideas on all matters of public interest.
- What are the limitations on the freedom of the press? Compare in this respect the
protection offered to publications on public matters with the protection of those
relating to private matters.
When the press is no longer functioning as the public watchdog in a democratic society and
they go too far, there are limitations possible. It’s about public matters that the press can
report about. The Court makes a distinction between valued judgments and statements of
facts. The difference is that valued judgments are still opinions and cannot be proved.
Statements of facts need to be proved by the defendant.
A politician must take more criticism than other people. It is not just the State that has to be
tolerant. The limits of acceptable criticism are wide in regard to all politicians, whether or not
they are in the government, because they knowingly lay themselves open to the scrutiny of
the press and public publications on private matters.
There is a good protection for the private life of civil servants though. Would you get
protection if you insult a civil servant? Polish case.
A private person must take less criticism than politicians publications relating to private
matters.
To what extend can press write about the private life of a celebrity? Von Hannover v
Germany I case. She was complaining about a series of reports taken of her in a private
setting. There were lots of photos taken secretly. In the first case there was no violation of
Article 8. The Court drew a fundamental distinction between the reporting of facts capable of
contributing to a debate in a democratic society relating to politicians in the exercise of their
