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Here's some campaign quotes to help people think, debate and engage with key concepts of free speech: truth, fake, history and accuracy. By understanding these words, we're better equipped to protect democracy. (Jason Tanner, volunteer at the Defend Campaign for Free Speech )
"We are all newsmakers everytime we speak. The issue is whether we get heard?"
On the challenges presented by unequal access to communications caused by media ownership, algorithms, privilege, power and manipulation.
"Humans face a confusing maze of smoke and mirrors and an array of doors labelled fake, truth, history and accuracy. We are left wondering which door we should open, if any?"
On some of the key words that determine the quality of free speech
"Free speech is best measured on a sliding scale called Fairness, like the volume on a child's music player. Maximum volume never gets reached while the device is sensibly limited to protect the child's ears".
On the need for reasonable and lawful limits to free speech
Freedom of Expression is not limited to free speech. It can include pictures, dance, photos, silent protests and much more. It underpins legislation designed to protect human rights for everyone
Freedom of Expression is not limited to free speech. It can include pictures, dance, photos, silent protests and much more. It underpins legislation designed to protect human rights for everyone
"When it comes to Trump's legacy, who needs to speak freely when a picture says it all?"
Jason Tanner, founder of the
Defend Campaign for Free Speech
" My audience is about to hear me present ‘his-story' or ‘my-story’, but it's also possible that ‘her-story’ may be even more accurate".
On the quality of what someone says freely when referring to history or is it 'herstory?'
" As with the word 'his-story', truth might as well be re-written more accurately as ‘his-truth’. Accuracy is a far better substitute when navigating the jungle of fairer free speech that we are all trying to navigate."
On 'accuracy' and needing to be wary of communications about history
"Fake is the opposite of Truth. But If the word 'Truth' is being manipulated then people must also assume the word 'Fake' is being tampered with too."
On being cautious about the use of the words 'Fake & Truth' in conversation and both social & established media
"Fake and Truth are now being used as weapons against the people. Free Speech has been kidnapped and acts under duress as their spokesman."
On how a scrambled concoction of 'fake' and 'truth' confuses people and stuns many into silence or making important decisions based on confusing or inaccurate information and retweets
"By understanding the words of free speech, truth, fake, history and accuracy, we better equip ourselves and our neighbours to protect democracy."
On equipping the ordinary citizen with better media literacy to spot threats to the flow of quality free speech
Attributed to: Jason Tanner, Founding Director of the Defend Campaign for Free Speech, 2026
Make sure you've visited Defend's Modern Glossary of definitions, history and analysis of Free Speech & Democracy
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