A Millian case for censoring vaccine misinformation
A Millian case for censoring vaccine misinformation
The spread of vaccine misinformation may contribute to vaccine refusal/hesitancy and consequent harms. Nonetheless, censorship is often rejected on the grounds of free expression. This article examines John Stuart Mill’s influential defence of free expression, but finds that his arguments for freedom apply only to normal, reasonably favourable circumstances. In other cases, it may be permissible to restrict freedom, including freedom of speech. Thus, while Mill would ordinarily defend the right to express false views, such as that vaccines cause autism, he might have accepted restrictions on anti-vaccine misinformation during the present pandemic. This illustrates that even the staunchest defenders of free speech can permit temporary restrictions in exceptional circumstances.
Censorship, COVID-19, Free speech, J.S. Mill, Misinformation, Vaccines
115–124
Saunders, Ben
aed7ba9f-f519-4bbf-a554-db25b684037d
March 2023
Saunders, Ben
aed7ba9f-f519-4bbf-a554-db25b684037d
Abstract
The spread of vaccine misinformation may contribute to vaccine refusal/hesitancy and consequent harms. Nonetheless, censorship is often rejected on the grounds of free expression. This article examines John Stuart Mill’s influential defence of free expression, but finds that his arguments for freedom apply only to normal, reasonably favourable circumstances. In other cases, it may be permissible to restrict freedom, including freedom of speech. Thus, while Mill would ordinarily defend the right to express false views, such as that vaccines cause autism, he might have accepted restrictions on anti-vaccine misinformation during the present pandemic. This illustrates that even the staunchest defenders of free speech can permit temporary restrictions in exceptional circumstances.
Text
JBI R&R formatted Mill vaccines censorship
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 2 July 2022
e-pub ahead of print date: 11 January 2023
Published date: March 2023
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Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
Keywords:
Censorship, COVID-19, Free speech, J.S. Mill, Misinformation, Vaccines
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 470002
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/470002
ISSN: 1176-7529
PURE UUID: 4fcfaa08-b28c-473e-b1b3-3a1976231cb5
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Date deposited: 29 Sep 2022 17:02
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 07:30
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