A recent survey ranked India 24th in a free speech index, revealing a paradox where strong support for free speech coexists with diminished protection for controversial speech. While Scandivanian nations topped the list, democratic nations like India face challenges in balancing public support with actual protections for free expression. The report underscores the importance of cultural commitment to free speech beyond legal frameworks.
India has been recently ranked 24th out of 33 countries in the Future of Free Speech Index, according to a report by the independent U.S.-based think tank, The Future of Free Speech. Titled ‘Who in the World Supports Free Speech?’, the report indicates a paradox in which general support for free speech remains high, yet the commitment to defending controversial speech is diminishing globally.
The survey, conducted in October 2024, highlights a worrying trend where democratic nations, including the United States, Israel, and Japan, have faced declines in free speech support since 2021. In contrast, Scandinavian countries, such as Norway and Denmark, lead the rankings with notable scores of 87.9 and 87.0, respectively, while countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan have shown improvements.
India received a score of 62.6, placing it in the middle of the rankings, alongside South Africa (66.9) and Lebanon (61.8). Notably, even authoritarian regimes such as Hungary and Venezuela reported higher scores, indicating a discrepancy between governmental restrictions and public attitudes toward free speech.
The survey findings indicate a significant portion of the Indian populace values the ability to speak freely without government intervention. However, concerning criticism of government policies, 37% of respondents believe governments should have the authority to prevent such criticism, the highest percentage recorded among the surveyed nations. Comparatively, only 5% and 3% supported government intervention in the UK and Denmark, respectively.
India presents an anomaly as it demonstrates strong public support for free speech, yet actual protections are lacking. The report underscores this inconsistency by noting similar patterns in countries that have experienced democratic backsliding, such as India, Hungary, and Venezuela. The survey reflects that many Indian respondents feel they have experienced improvements in their ability to speak about political matters, despite prevailing expert opinion suggesting otherwise.
Jacob Mchangama, Executive Director of The Future of Free Speech, emphasized that free speech transcends mere legal rights, relying instead on a culture of open debate and tolerance for dissent. He noted, “our findings show that while many nations still claim to champion free expression, in practice, the willingness to defend controversial speech is slipping. Without public commitment to free speech, even the strongest legal protections may become mere paper guarantees.”
In summary, India’s rank in the Future of Free Speech Index highlights critical issues surrounding free speech and democratic values. Despite significant public support for free expression, there exists a troubling discrepancy in attitudes towards criticism of the government. This report emphasizes the need for a cultural commitment to free speech, not just legal guarantees, to ensure protections against government censorship and promote open dialogue.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
