ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HATE SPEECH ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS: LEGAL CHALLENGES AND LIMITS TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/hnzhw419Keywords:
Criminal law; Criminal policy; Digital platforms; Hate speech; Accountability.Abstract
This article analyzes the accountability of hate speech on digital platforms, focusing on the legal challenges faced by the Brazilian legal system in reconciling the repression of illicit content with the protection of the fundamental right to freedom of expression. It starts from the hypothesis that the current model of platform accountability, primarily guided by the Brazilian Civil Rights Framework for the Internet (Marco Civil da Internet), proves insufficient given the complexity of contemporary digital interactions. The research examines the evolution of freedom of expression, its constitutional limits regarding human dignity, as well as the legal criteria for characterizing hate speech. Furthermore, it analyzes the role of platforms in content moderation and the risks of private censorship, in addition to the Judiciary's role in defining parameters for accountability. It concludes that it is necessary to build a clearer and more balanced regulatory model that ensures the effectiveness of fundamental rights without compromising legal certainty in the digital environment.
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