Censoring and Punishing Free Speech Is Unethical: Reply to Jackson (2022) and Smith (2022)

The ethically proper response to problematic speech is more speech and not censorship. To the extent that Jackson (2022) and Smith (2022) advocate for all to be able to criticize all, for example, for unempowered undergraduates to criticize privileged White male professors or for anyone to criticize racist or hate speech, we are in agreement. The speech involved in criticism can be risky and hence ought to be protected by the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (American Psychological Association, 2017). However, except in very circumscribed circumstances, to the extent that Jackson or Smith advocate for acts such as the suppression, censorship, or punishment of speech, we are in disagreement.

Automated summary

The proper response to problematic speech is more speech rather than censorship. While we agree with Jackson and Smith's advocacy for the freedom to criticize, we disagree with any acts of suppressing, censoring, or punishing speech, except in specific circumstances.