What is Article 19?Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:”Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”This article guarantees the right to freedom of expression for all individuals, including the right to seek, receive, and share information and ideas without interference or fear of retaliation
Supreme court expands Article 19:The recent Supreme Court ruling on Article 19 has expanded the scope of the law beyond just the state. Private citizens can now be held accountable for any violations of the law. This is a major shift in how the law is interpreted and enforced.The court found that defamation laws, as applied by the state, could not be used to restrict speech that was critical of public officials or public figures. This ruling has been seen as a major victory for free speech advocates who have long argued that such laws were too restrictive and could be used to silence dissent.The court also found that private citizens could be held accountable for violations of Article 19. This means that private individuals can now be sued for defamation if they make false statements about another person or entity. This is an important development as it gives individuals more power to protect their reputation from false accusations.The court also noted that Article 19 does not apply to all forms of speech. It only applies to speech that is considered to be “malicious” or “defamatory” in nature. This means that individuals can still express their opinions without fear of legal repercussions, as long as they do not make false statements about another person or entity.Overall, this ruling is seen as a major victory for free speech advocates and those who wish to protect their reputation from false accusations. It gives individuals more power to protect themselves from defamation and ensures that their right to free speech is respected.