Issues of Exercise of the Right to Freedom of Speech in the Big Data Era

The evolution of the understanding of freedom of speech occurs, among other things, in connection with the development of information and communication technologies, the ways in which people actually exercise freedom of speech. The development of platforms and social networks, in which big data plays a key role, lead us to a new era of opportunities and risks. The concentration of data on large platforms, data management by the private sector based on its own rules and policies lead to restrictions on the ability to disseminate information to a wide audience and territory. Such companies concentrate power and control at the individual and group levels. The purpose of the article is to consider certain aspects of the evolution and problems of implementing freedom of speech in the Big Data era. The objectives of the article are to consider the phenomenon of self‑censorship, the filter bubble, analyze the use of algorithms by media companies, pluralism of power in regulating freedom of speech, study the impact of data management models on freedom of speech, analyze legislative trends as responses to new challenges in the field of freedom of speech in the digital space, including approaches to the liability of Internet intermediaries. When writing the article, the following methods were used: comparative legal, analysis and synthesis, deduction and induction. The conclusions include recommendations on limiting the influence of large media companies on freedom of speech, ensuring citizens’ rights, and changing data management policies. It is noted that manipulation and new, often unprovable forms of discrimination, surveillance and profiling, control by private and public entities directly affect the media sphere, which is reflected in the understanding and limitations of freedom of speech. Data influences what we see and what we do not see on the Internet, data management affects our behavior and choices.