Fake News, Free Elections, and Free Expression: Balancing Fundamental Rights in Irish Policy Responses to Disinformation Online | Fake news, eleições livres e liberdade de expressão: equilibrando direitos fundamentais em políticas públicas irlandesas para desinformação online
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/publicum.2019.47210Keywords:
Democracy, Fake News, Human Rights, Free Expression, Free Elections.. | Democracia, Fake news, Direitos Humanos, Liberdade de Expressão, Eleições Livres..Abstract
Abstract: This paper considers the widely discussed problem of fake news in democracy and posits how Irish regulatory solutions should proceed in light of requisite human rights considerations. Firstly, the conceptual problems associated with fake news are examined, including the qualitative variation and harmful use of the term. The existing Irish and European legal framework is analysed, followed by analysis of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case law. In many instances, the Court has attempted to balance the right of free elections under Article 3 of Protocol 1 with the right to free expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In light of factors that shape the Court in balancing these interrelated fundamental rights, it is argued that policy initiatives to tackle disinformation online should limit interferences with Article 10. Ultimately, initial measures are suggested for stakeholders to adopt, including the proposed Electoral Commission.
Resumo: Este artigo considera o problema amplamente discutido das fake news em democracias e propõe como as soluções regulatórias irlandesas devem proceder à luz das considerações necessárias sobre direitos humanos. Em primeiro lugar, examinam-se os problemas conceituais associados às fake news, incluindo a variação qualitativa e usos prejudiciais do termo. Em seguida, foi abordado o atual quadro jurídico irlandês e europeu, seguido de uma análise da jurisprudência do Tribunal Europeu de Direitos Humanos (TEDH). Em muitos casos, a Corte tentou equilibrar o direito de eleições livres nos termos do artigo 3º do Protocolo 1 com o direito à liberdade de expressão nos termos do artigo 10º da Convenção Europeia dos Direitos do Homem (CEDH). À luz dos fatores que guiam a Corte no equilíbrio destes direitos fundamentais interrelacionados, defende-se que as iniciativas políticas para combater a desinformação online devem limitar interferências no artigo 10. Em última análise, são sugeridas medidas iniciais para adoção institucional, incluindo a proposta de Comissão Eleitoral.
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