Evaluating the argument

Should Online Platforms Censor Hate Speech? Evaluate and discuss the argument presented in this video.

Should our commitment to freedom of speech include allowing people to express hateful, derogatory views about others online?

Consider the following range of opinions on this question:

Yes. Our commitment to free speech means little if we are not willing to grant this freedom even to people whose speech we strongly disagree with or find vile and offensive.
Yes. After all, the only way to actually overcome hateful views is to engage with them directly. What we really need are forums that foster more honest, respectful, and constructive dialogue among all sides of a dispute, even between people who start off hating and fearing each other.
No. Our commitment to free expression requires us to create the necessary conditions for everyone to feel reasonably safe enough to discover, express, and develop their own perspectives. Creating such conditions for historically oppressed and marginalized people requires censoring the kinds of hateful voices that seek to sustain this oppression and marginalization.
No. Hateful speech that attacks the basic human dignity of others is fundamentally contrary to the principle of free speech, which is grounded in a respect for the moral dignity of every person.

Now, take some time - by yourself or with others - to reflect openly, yet critically, on the ethical considerations raised by the various perspectives, and determine where you stand on this issue. What do YOU think, and why?

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