Digital shaming tests Cyprus’ balance between free speech and human dignity

Public shaming no longer needs a town square. A post, a photograph, a name and a few lines of accusatory language are enough to place someone before an informal digital court, often without evidence, without an immediate right of reply and without any restoration of the truth if the claims prove false.

In Cyprus in 2026, the balance between freedom of expression and the protection of human dignity is being tested daily on social media. Online public trials can form within minutes, often with...