Freedom of speech and religion are paramount to a free society. But not everyone agrees.
And now this underhanded move to cancel the First Amendment is rattling Americans.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres openly called on governments worldwide Tuesday to adopt a global censorship framework, urging them to “rein in hate speech and disinformation spreading online.”
While the U.N. frames these efforts as a defense against harmful content, critics have pointed out that such actions directly conflict with foundational freedoms, including the First Amendment rights Americans hold dear.
Guterres warned that “unchecked digital platforms” are fueling what he called “the worst impulses of humanity,” allegedly jeopardizing global stability. To counter this, he championed U.N.-backed initiatives like the “Global Digital Compact” to silence speech deemed undesirable.
The timing coincided with UNESCO’s announcement of an “urgent” need to train social media influencers to conform to U.N. speech standards and combat “misinformation,” a move many view as a thinly veiled attempt to control online discourse.
UNESCO has equated unwanted online speech to “insects thriving in the dark” and is leading a global push for censorship regulations. While these initiatives are branded as necessary for combating “hate,” they represent a slippery slope toward suppressing dissent and eroding free expression, particularly in nations like the United States, where the First Amendment protects the free exchange of ideas.
Guterres presented his case during the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations global forum in Portugal, where he listed combating online “disinformation” as a top priority. “We must rein in hate speech and disinformation spreading online,” he proclaimed. “Hate-filled frenzies are perpetuating stereotypes and misconceptions. Misinformation and outright lies are fueling repulsive antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry and attacks on minority Christian communities, among others.”
The U.N. chief blamed artificial intelligence for accelerating the spread of so-called “hate speech” and urged countries to adopt global initiatives like the “Global Principles for Information Integrity” and the “Global Digital Compact.” These frameworks, however, go beyond targeting genuine threats—they propose granting the U.N. power to regulate what people can say online, a stark contradiction to the constitutional protections Americans enjoy.
“The proliferation of hate and lies in the digital space is causing grave global harm,” Guterres said when introducing the Compact in 2023. “This clear and present global threat demands clear and coordinated global action. We don’t have a moment to lose.” The Compact includes measures to control online conversations and enforce “accountability criteria” on digital platforms, even suggesting a role for the U.N. in policing disinformation during elections—a direct attack on the free speech principles enshrined in America’s Bill of Rights.
UNESCO has similarly intensified its efforts, focusing Tuesday on social media influencers, whom it accuses of failing to “fact-check” their content rigorously.
“The low prevalence of factchecking highlights their vulnerability to misinformation, which can have far-reaching consequences for public discourse and trust in media,” UNESCO said, pushing for mandatory media literacy programs to align influencers with its guidelines.
In parallel, UNESCO launched its “Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change” at the G20 summit, a program co-sponsored by Brazil’s leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The initiative aims to suppress dissenting opinions on climate policy, adding another layer to the global censorship agenda.
Lula, notorious for his aggressive crackdown on conservative voices in Brazil, condemned “denialism and disinformation” at the event.
Under his administration, Brazil has expanded censorship, banning Twitter temporarily until owner Elon Musk complied with government demands and silencing dissent through police raids and harsh court rulings.
The G20’s joint declaration echoed these sentiments, citing the dangers of “misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and other forms of online harms.” It called for stricter regulations on digital platforms, all while ignoring the inherent dangers of governments deciding what constitutes “truth.”
Critics argue these U.N. initiatives signal a coordinated effort to undermine free speech worldwide, posing a direct threat to Americans’ First Amendment rights. The U.S. Constitution was designed to protect free expression, even if it is controversial or unpopular. Granting the U.N. or any global body authority to control speech represents a chilling precedent, opening the door to authoritarian overreach.
As Guterres concluded his speech, he called for “strengthening global governance,” asserting, “In these turbulent times, too many people are convinced that differences must define us. But the most powerful force of all is the recognition that we are more united by our common fate than divided by our distinct identities.”
His remarks, however, offer little comfort to those who see such global censorship as a direct assault on the freedoms that define democratic societies.
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