| Summary/Abstract |
A central distinction between authoritarian and democratic systems is their view of information. Democracies believe in—and depend on—the open and free exchange of information that empowers citizens to make informed decisions to select their representatives and engage in political debate. 1 They champion freedom of expression, association, and press as universal rights. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights captures this vision: “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his [sic] choice.”
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