SAFEGUARDING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSIONIN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Abstract

The world in the 21st century is moving at an unprecedented speed in the field of
technological development, and new technologies based on artificial intelligence have now
become deeply rooted in human reality. Independence and autonomy of computer technologies
offer speed, efficiency and lightning-fast solutions for filtering, ranking and sharing
information on the internet, while profoundly transforming the way people communicate,
consume and engage with media, governance and society.
The ability to rapidly collect and analyze personal data inevitably impacts the freedom
of expression, as, to be able to freely form political, religious or other opinions and views, and
to freely express them, an individual needs a private domain without interference from the
state, private sectors or society. AI-driven surveillance and monitoring tools, when used
without transparency or accountability, increase the risk of profiling, censorship, and
repression. In the absence of strong data protection laws and independent oversight, individuals
may even self-censor, fearing they are being watched or judged for their views. These
consequences can potentially undermine the democratic values of accountability, integrity,
adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights, particularly in contexts where legal
protections and institutional capacities are still evolving.
This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of how the right to freedom of expression
is challenged by artificial intelligence systems and algorithms used on the online platforms. It
further analyzes the obligations that online platforms, i.e., Internet intermediares, own in
respect to the use of AI-driven systems, and how different legal systems address the novel
challenges that generative AI poses to the freedom of expression. The paper aims to
demonstrate the need to properly and carefully address and adopt concrete legal frameworks to
regulate the use of artificial intelligence, while also arguing that the present interpretation of
freedom of expression is able to address the unique challenges posed by AI technologies.