Defamation not protected speech, says Cleanthous
Costas Cleanthous, businessman and Phileleftheros publisher, raised the issue of the limits of freedom of expression, saying that democratic free speech cannot be used as justification for defamation. He also warned that misinformation undermined institutions and eroded social trust. “Freedon of expression is the foundation of democratic society,” he said in a statement published in Phileleftheros. “But it cannot be transformed into an excuse for slander, the spread of false
Businessman and Phileleftheros publisher Costas Cleanthous has asserted that freedom of expression does not extend to defamation, emphasizing that democratic speech should not be a shield for slander or the dissemination of false claims. He argued that misinformation damages individuals, erodes trust in institutions, and poisons public discourse, ultimately weakening society. Cleanthous stressed the need for public confrontation of falsehoods, stating that silence or private disagreement is insufficient when slander is presented as truth. He believes that truth, accountability, and responsibility are paramount and must not be sacrificed in the digital age, calling for collective action against the spread of harmful narratives.
This statement highlights a critical tension between free speech and the protection of individuals and institutions from harmful falsehoods, a relevant issue in contemporary public discourse.
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