FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA LANDSCAPE: LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL NORMS

Freedom of speech is being recognized as a worldwide right due to the impact of the digitalization process on the global media landscape. The present paper studies the last reforms on freedom of speech in the Uzbek media landscape based on various legal dimensions. It considers that national norms on freedom are being developed according to the international legal documents for ensuring human rights, especially new trends of the marketplace of ideas such as media freedom, digital freedom, and journalists’ safety in the country at the level of global standards. Changes in national legislation to enhance the media’s role in deepening democratic reforms during 2016-2021 have been considered. Laws such as “on Mass Media,” “on guarantees and freedom of information,” and “on the protection of journalism” were compared with international law. The study attempts to shed light on the importance of ratifying or joining the international norms accepted nearly by all world countries. In addition, several parts of certain international documents, still not expressed in national legislation, are investigated.