Mary Anne Franks argues that protecting free speech must include protecting people from online abuse. The legal scholar and activist frames sexual assault as a free speech issue rather than a separate concern.
Franks says abusive speech silences its targets. When harassment goes unpunished, victims are pushed out of public conversation and online spaces.
The core problem is impunity. Allowing abuse to continue sends a clear message that certain voices do not matter.
Her argument challenges the common view that free expression and safety are opposing goals. In her framework, unchecked abuse undermines the very speech protections many claim to defend.
Online platforms play a central role in this dynamic. Franks contends that tolerating harassment creates an environment where participation becomes unsafe for many users.
She has spent years documenting and fighting online abuse. Her work connects legal theory with the daily experiences of people targeted by coordinated harassment.
The debate over speech and safety remains unresolved. Franks pushes for consequences, arguing that genuine support for free expression requires taking abuse seriously.
