From the French Revolution to the present day, thinkers, and philosophers of the Enlightenment, such as Thomas Paine and J. Stuart Mill, have attempted to define and justify the framework and limits of freedom of expression. In a world dominated by monarchies, claiming this right was among the most radical endeavours. Freedom of expression also guaranteed the right of the people, as part of bourgeois democracy, to "choose to govern themselves and, if those elected behave badly, to remove them." However, over time, freedom of expression alone proved insufficient for a democratic system, necessitating the addition of "freedom of communication." Today, freedom of communication encompasses not only the freedom to express one's thoughts but also the freedom to access important information about one's life in a healthy manner. It is now one of the most fundamental rights of individuals, even comparable to basic needs such as eating and drinking. Knowing and being able to communicate information to people in a healthy way is crucial for organizing. Authoritarian regimes have recognized the vital importance of information for organization, leading them to develop new strategies to control the flow of information. Governments seeking to consolidate their power not only suppress the right of the public to be informed through traditional means but also overwhelm the public with both necessary and unnecessary information, effectively bewildering the masses. This method appears to work very well as it makes the masses feel more liberated. Moreover, seemingly free new media ecosystems encourage people to share private information for the opportunity to use these platforms, making the process of profiling easier. This compilation aims to address these and similar issues, evaluating the opportunities and threats created by new communication technologies.
