Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age

This study explores how distinct intellectual traditions in the United States and Brazil shape the terms of the debate and policy solutions for digital free speech. I argue that each nation’s response to the shared challenge of digital platform dominance is a function of deeply embedded constitutional philosophies and scholarly traditions. Using a mixed-methods approach, I combine a comparative bibliometric analysis of top-cited academic publications with a legal analysis of both countries' constitutional frameworks. The analysis reveals two distinct communication cultures: an Anglophone tradition focused on individualistic First Amendment jurisprudence, and a Lusophone tradition concerned with media pluralism and structural reform. The paper's primary contribution is a novel framework for understanding communication governance, demonstrating that while the U.S. is striving to overcome its dominant individualistic approach, the Brazilian tradition provides a more adaptable theoretical toolkit to address persistent issues of power concentration and unequal access in the digital age.