Research On Legal Countermeasures For Regulating Citizen’s Freedom Of Expression On Online Information Platforms

In the network information age,only when freedom of speech is placed in the context of the information age can its value be accurately grasped.In the era of online information,having the power to control data means having the power of speech.Information freedom is crucial for freedom of expression on the internet.Freedom of expression on the internet includes the right of individuals to freely express opinions,share knowledge,access information,and participate in discussions,among other rights.More importantly,it guarantees citizens a free,equal,and open environment for communication.Information freedom is a vital prerequisite for freedom of expression on the internet because it safeguards citizens’ right to access and disseminate information,which is the foundation for expressing and communicating.If information is not free,the public’s access to information will be limited or manipulated,and the internet will lose its basic function as a civil society.Therefore,information freedom is essential to freedom of expression on the internet.Only by guaranteeing information freedom can citizens’ freedom of speech,freedom of knowledge,and freedom of thought be truly protected.Although the right to knowledge and freedom of expression on the internet are two different fundamental rights,the relationship between them is becoming increasingly close.In China,the government is the largest owner of data information.Apart from that,some internet service providers have an advantage due to their commercial and technological advantages,which has an important impact on citizens’ freedom of expression on the internet.This influence is both beneficial and harmful.On the one hand,internet platforms can provide citizens with unrestricted communication channels,which is conducive to exercising their right to freedom of expression.On the other hand,it exposes some contradictions in the field of information governance.Unlike traditional government regulation of citizens,in the era of online information,citizens’ freedom of expression may face the dual threats of government and internet platforms.The focus of this article is on how to maintain individuals’ freedom of speech rights under the "individual-media-government" tripartite structure,and prevent platforms and governments from abusing their power to infringe on basic rights.In particular,it explores the problems that arise from internet platform regulations on freedom of expression and proposes some targeted solutions.This article is divided into five parts.The first part provides an overview of freedom of expression on the internet.It discusses the origin and meaning of freedom of expression and freedom of expression on the internet,defines the rights attributes of freedom of expression on the internet,and summarizes the characteristics of freedom of expression on the internet.The second part discusses the importance of information.Information is power and the foundation and prerequisite for ensuring freedom of speech on the internet.The government’s decision-making process is based on the exchange of information between citizens and the government.The third part discusses the meaning of internet information platforms,defines their subject status,introduces the concept of "social public power subjects," and emphasizes the advantages of internet information platforms as media for freedom of expression.The fourth part starts with the methods and defects of internet information platforms regulating speech and discusses how the law indirectly regulates freedom of expression on the internet through internet information platforms.It also explains the dominance of internet platforms over users based on their advantageous position and contractual relationship,as well as exploring the flaws of platform regulations.The fifth part proposes targeted measures to improve the regulation of online expression on internet platforms.If control is to be exercised over objects of regulation related to freedom of expression,procedural justice and substantive justice standards must be followed to ensure that regulation complies with the spirit of the rule of law;at the same time,in light of the attached review responsibility standards possessed by internet platforms,the law should provide a reasonable solution.