Mark Zuckerberg’s pledge sparks hope for the future of digital liberty, but there is still a long way to go in the fight for freedom of expression says Paul Coleman
It seems 2025 has marked a new chapter in the global fight for free speech. Mark Zuckerberg has this week committed to winding back -censorship across all Meta platforms - including Facebook, Instagram and Threads.
In a monumental announcement, the CEO admitted that the third-party “fact-checkers” employed to moderate content on Meta were “too politically biased”, and that it’s “time to get back to our roots around freedom of expression.”
This isn’t just good news for Instagrammers and influencers who can now engage more freely in discussing important issues. It doesn’t just spark hope for those such as Steven Ertelt, who was banished from Facebook for sharing a video claiming that an unborn child is more than just a clump of cells. More so - it marks a sea-change in the public landscape, indicating an expectation that our right to free speech be honoured - whether on or offline.
We can celebrate this important milestone and will be watching closely to see if Zuckerberg follows through on his promises.
Soliders on the frontline for expression
But the battle is far from over. The threat to free speech not only comes from privately-run internet platforms - but from governments all over the world. In my work leading a global legal organisation committed to upholding everyone’s right to live and speak the truth, we’ve witnessed a worrying trend unfold.
Take Päivi Räsänen. This Finnish member of parliament will soon be heading to criminal trial at the Supreme Court because of a Bible-verse tweet she posted in 2019. It wasn’t a social media platform that censored her Christian view - but the state authorities. We’re backing her legal defence as her case heads to the Finnish Supreme Court this year.
Or take Chris Elston, aka viral internet sensation Billboard Chris. A father of two, he feels passionately that no child has ever been born in the wrong body. He’s been leading a global fight against toxic puberty blockers being administered to minors. Last February, he posted on X about his disapproval of the World Health Organisation’s selection of an infamous transgender activist to be on a panel setting guidelines for global transgender policy.
It wasn’t a social media platform that decided that his opinion shouldn’t be heard. It was the Australian authorities - specifically, an unelected “e-Safety commissioner”. As a result, his tweet was “geoblocked” in Australia to protect citizens from hearing and considering his opinion. We’re supporting his fight for free speech as he goes to court in March, alongside X, who want to be able to host his viewpoint without government interference.
The battle on your doorstep
Of course, the censorship of truth is not only a phenomenon overseas - but right here in Britain, too. And it’s not only impacting the online world. Last year, Bristol street preacher Dia Moodley was seen crying for help as he was surrounded by a vicious mob trying to silence him preaching from the Bible. On a different occasion, Dia was assaulted in the street and his property was seized. Instead of protecting his right to free speech, the police arrested Dia for having the audacity to answer a question, raised by a member of the public, about the comparison of Christianity and Islam. We’re supporting Dia in seeking justice following his ordeal. The state should be supporting free and open debate - not arresting those who peacefully express an opinion.
In perhaps an even darker turn, the UK government’s desire to control speech has grown into a desire to control thought. In the past two years, our UK team has supported three different individuals who found themselves on criminal trial for nothing more than praying silently, in their heads, within 100 meters of an abortion facility.
It’s easy to become discouraged as we live through an era where speaking the truth can land you in legal trouble - especially as people instructed to share the good news found in the Bible lovingly with those around us. We have a long way to go to better protect our eroded right to freedom of speech and must continue to hold governments accountable for their censorship. But with Zuckerberg’s commitment to restore free speech across Meta, we mark yet another clear indication that we’re moving the needle in the right direction. And that gives us grounds to celebrate as we move into the year ahead.
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