The US Department of State considers freedom of expression a fundamental component of a functioning democracy.
"Governments continue to use censorship, arbitrary or unlawful surveillance, and restrictive laws against voices they dislike, often on political or religious grounds," the response said.
State Department Response
“We consider freedom of expression a fundamental component of a functioning democracy. Societies are strengthened by the free expression of opinions, and government censorship is intolerable in a free society. Freedom of expression remains under threat in many parts of the world, as highlighted in the 2024 Human Rights Report. Governments continue to use censorship, arbitrary or unlawful surveillance, and restrictive laws against voices they do not like, often on political or religious grounds. And, no matter how objectionable someone’s speech may be, criminalizing or forcibly silencing it only serves as a catalyst for further hatred, oppression, and polarization.”
— Tammy Bruce, State Department Spokesperson, August 12, 2025, Washington, DC.
