When Freedom of Expression Becomes an Excuse

By Eunice Kioko 

Freedom of expression is meant to protect voices, not excuse damage. Yet in today’s society, especially online, we have slowly turned this right into a convenient escape route from accountability. People say whatever they want, however they want, and when the consequences arrive, they retreat behind the phrase, “It’s my freedom of expression.”

The problem is not expression itself. The problem is the belief that expression should come without responsibility.

Words are powerful. They influence opinions, shape beliefs, and sometimes cause irreversible harm. When someone spreads false information, insults entire communities, or deliberately provokes others, the impact does not disappear simply because the speaker labels it an “opinion.” Calling something free speech does not magically erase its effects. A lie does not become harmless because it was spoken loudly, and cruelty does not become acceptable because it was typed confidently.

Social media has made this confusion worse. Platforms reward shock, outrage, and controversy, not thoughtfulness. People chase attention, knowing that extreme statements travel faster than careful ones. When criticism follows, it is framed as oppression or “cancel culture.” But disagreement is not censorship. Being questioned, corrected, or criticized is part of public conversation. Freedom of expression allows response,it does not silence it.

Accountability is often misunderstood as punishment. In reality, it is simply ownership. If you say something harmful, you should be willing to explain it, defend it, or apologize for it. If a journalist publishes misleading information, corrections are expected. If a public figure makes reckless statements, public scrutiny is reasonable. These are not attacks on freedom; they are signs of a functioning society.

A society without accountability does not become freer ,it becomes louder and more careless. When people stop caring about truth, accuracy, or impact, conversation loses value. Trust fades. Dialogue turns into noise. Ironically, freedom of expression suffers the most in such an environment because meaningful voices are drowned out by reckless ones.

True freedom of expression is not about saying anything without consequences. It is about speaking honestly, responsibly, and with the understanding that words matter. Rights and responsibility are not enemies; they are partners. When we separate them, freedom stops being a tool for progress and becomes a weapon of avoidance.

If we truly value freedom of expression, we must also value accountability. Without it, expression loses purpose, and society pays the price.