Eric Heinze

Expert on free speech and human rights Professor Eric Heinze argues that there can be no other rights unless we treat free speech as a fundamental human right. And he considers issues raised by the likes of Putin and by Elon Musk and Twitter.

Heinze says global human rights systems have failed. While international organisations report on how governments manage ‘human goods’ such as fair trials, humane detention, healthcare and housing, he says they appease governments by ignoring the primacy of free speech. Heinze says these goods can only be rights when citizens can claim them publicly and fearlessly. Free speech is the fundamental right without which no other rights make sense.

Heinze is professor of law and humanities at the University of London. He is author of books on free speech and human rights including Hate Speech and Democratic Citizenship and The Concept of Injustice.