Freedom of expression is the foundation of any democratic society. But it cannot be turned into an alibi for slander, spreading false claims or publicly condemning people without evidence.
Misinformation does not only affect the people who are targeted each time. It erodes trust in institutions, poisons public debate and ultimately weakens society itself.
Those who are exposed in public must be ready to be judged. That’s part of the responsibility that comes with any public presence about it, and I don’t think the answer to misinformation lies in personal confrontation.
The issue is not criticism, but what happens when slander is presented as truth, suspicion as evidence, and toxicity as public debate. Against this, neither silence nor private dissent is sufficient. We need to have the courage to say it publicly.
It is my duty to speak out, because the issue is about the kind of society we want to hand down to future generations. A society where truth has more value than impression, facts more weight than rumours, and institutions more power than noise.
Truth, accountability and responsibility cannot be the losers of the digital age.
This is not the responsibility of a few, it is the responsibility of all of us.
Those who see must speak. And let those who remain silent know that they are taking a stand.
Because in the end we are not only judged by what we said but mainly by what we tolerated.