Introduction
Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental human rights. Similarly, it concerns the freedom of the press of the media, which are protected in the United States of America by the First Amendment. It provides an opportunity for media sources to publish various kinds of information. However, serious events sometimes occur in the world that may question this right. Thus, it may become an issue concerning national security during interethnic conflicts. Therefore, freedom of the press may jeopardize the policy of resolving this problem in countries. This work supports the view that it should be curtailed for national security reasons.
Freedom of Press and National Security
The First Amendment allows various media sources to disseminate information without putting themselves at risk. To this end, the state has adopted various legislative acts that prohibit the Government from censoring it (Harr et al., 2017). In addition, freedom of expression and free dissemination of information is an integral part of a democratic society. At the same time, national security is also a critical aspect of society and should also be protected by the Government. During interethnic conflicts, especially wars or the risks of their occurrence, the Government should take measures to prevent the leakage of valuable or, conversely, misleading and unnecessary information and data. One of the clearest examples of the conflict between press freedom and national security may be the Vietnam War. The various kinds of internal protests and conflicts that have arisen have led to the need for the Government to introduce measures to restrict media sources to prevent unrest in the country.
Conclusion
Thus, freedom of speech is undoubtedly a vital part of the life of society and the media. It ensures the dissemination of information and opinions protected by the First Amendment of United States law. However, cases that endanger the country’s national security cause some restrictions on press freedom. However, in this case, a critical aspect is the provision by the Government of evidence and reasons for such limitations to avoid internal conflicts in the country.
Reference
Harr, J. S., Hess, K. M., Orthmann, C. H., & Kingsbury, J. (2017). Constitutional law and the criminal justice system (7th Edition). Cengage Learning US.