HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGITAL MEDIA: A STUDY ON THE STATUS OF FREE SPEECH IN VIRTUAL WORLD WITH RESPECT TO US, UK & INDIAN OUTLOOK

ABSTRACT Digital Media heralded as the best ever invention in the last two decades became the essential facet of every individual. Today’s world is therefore a virtual world. Where in the real world every individual is safeguarded with a flock of basic rights including free speech and expression, it can then hardly be believed that the virtual world due to its majority use is the only exception in terms of getting protection through the inherent rights. Comparing the status of free speechexpression between the real-time and virtual scenario; it is evident that the virtual space also acts as an effective platform while exercising rights by the user. Like the real-time scenario, the existence of free speech and its restrictions can be reflected virtually through true threats, offensive comments and defamation. But as the time passes, conflict on balancing between the free speech and its regulations is growing gravely as behind a text or sentence of a speech, there can be much more meaning along with the literal meaning of the sentences which often amounts to various interpretations and misunderstandings. Due to this, it makes so challenging to identify the limitation of free speech in virtual environment. Hence, an attempt has been made in this research paper to encounter the pressing issues lying in such borderline disorder in Virtual space followed by the recent reforms in this context and moreover, necessary recommendations have been suggested to balance the equation of digital freedom.