Free Speech in European (and Other) Democracies, with Prof. Jacob Mchangama | Eugene Volokh and Jane Bambauer | Hoover Institution

This interview podcast explores the differences between U.S. free speech laws and those in other Western democracies, focusing on hate speech, blasphemy, and misinformation. The discussion begins with a historical overview of the UN's efforts to define free speech limits, highlighting the contrasting views of the U.S. and Soviet blocs. The interview then delves into specific examples of hate speech laws in Europe, illustrating how they are applied more broadly than in the U.S., often encompassing speech deemed insulting or offensive, even without direct incitement to violence. The guest also discusses the impact of these laws, suggesting a lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness in reducing hate speech. Finally, the conversation touches upon the implications of these differing approaches on the nature of public discourse and democratic processes in the U.S. and Europe, using the example of Germany's hasty implementation of a hate speech ban in 1959 following a KGB disinformation campaign.