Context: 

A recent global survey conducted by The Future of Free Speech, an independent U.S.-based think tank, ranked India 24th among 33 countries in terms of support for free speech. 

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• The report titled ‘Who in the World Supports Free Speech?’, released in October 2024, reveals that while abstract support for free speech remains strong globally, commitment to defending controversial speech has been eroding in several parts of the world.

Key Findings of the Survey

India ranked 24th globally with a score of 62.6. This places India between South Africa (66.9) and Lebanon (61.8) on the Free Speech Index.

While support for free speech in India is relatively high, concerns were raised about the country’s support for controversial speech, especially criticism of government policies.

The survey noted that more countries experienced declines in free speech support between 2021 and 2024 than improvements, nations like the United States, Israel, and Japan experienced some of the biggest declines in support for free speech.

Scandinavian countries dominated the top rankings, with Norway and Denmark leading the index, scoring 87.9 and 87.0, respectively.

The survey found that Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan showed significant improvements, though they remained on the lower end of the rankings.

The survey highlighted that India, along with Hungary and Venezuela, represents a significant disconnect between public support for free speech and the actual protection of free speech.

• These countries have experienced democratic backsliding, where public attitudes towards free speech remain positive, but the protection of those freedoms has declined over time.

The survey emphasized that free speech is not just a legal right but also depends on a culture of open debate and tolerance for dissent.

Approvals of homosexual relationships have increased in countries like India, Lebanon, South Africa, the United States, and Mexico.

The willingness to trade free speech for national security or economic reasons has decreased in countries such as Malaysia, Tunisia, Pakistan, Kenya, and Taiwan.

Support for Criticism of Government Policies in India

• Despite a strong belief in the importance of free speech in India, the survey found below-average support for criticizing government policies.
• Specifically, 37% of Indian respondents supported the idea that “governments should be able to prevent people from criticizing government policies,” which was the highest percentage among the surveyed countries. 
• In contrast, only 3-5% of respondents in countries like the U.K. and Denmark supported such a statement.