Freedom of expression is one of the main fundamental human rights, enshrined in several international human rights treaties. This right applies both offline and online. The Internet, with the opportunities it offers people to express themselves, is an enabler of the exercise of this right.
Online freedom of expression has featured highly on the diplomatic agenda over the past few years. It is an important issue for the UN Council of Human Rights, and for regional intergovernmental bodies such as the Council of Europe. It has also been discussed at numerous Internet governance-related processes.
Despite being enshrined in various legal instruments and in national constitutions, online freedom of expression has been a contentious policy area. As of late, this right is being curtailed through governmental content control, censorship, and surveillance in many countries, often for political reasons.