The Italian Platform for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Federico Regaldo
Freedom of Speech and Protection of «Profitable Livestock». Some Remarks on the Case «PETA Deutschland v. Germany» (European Court of Human Rights, November 8, 2012)
Keywords: Freedom of Speech, Advertising, Animal Rights.
The article takes inspiration from a recent judgement of the European Court of Human Rights, in order to assess the actual level of protection of freedom of speech in Europe, making a comparison with the one attained in the United States. Conclusions reached by the author are twofold: as a matter of fact, commercial speech funded by multinationals appears to be more protected than free speech aiming to promote alternative lifestyles, not aligned to the dominant Western consumerist model; the current European Court, with jurisdiction spread over 47 States, appears unable to alter the established social order of the signatories of the Convention granting its powers.