Article 12
All are equal before the law. No one may be discriminated against based on nationality, race, skin color, gender, language, origin, religion, political or other beliefs, or property or social status.
The incitement of hatred, violence, or discrimination based on nationality, race, religion, or political affiliation is prohibited and punishable by law. Similarly, incitement of hatred, violence, or discrimination between social groups is prohibited and punishable by law.
Equality before the law and the prohibition of discrimination.
Article 40
Everyone has freedom of conscience, religion, and thought.
Membership in churches and religious associations is voluntary. There is no state church.
Everyone has the freedom to practice religious rituals alone or with others, publicly or privately, provided it does not harm public order, health, or morals.
Article 41
Everyone has the right to remain faithful to their opinions and beliefs. No one can be forced to change them.
Beliefs cannot be used to justify violations of the law.
No one can be held legally accountable for their beliefs.
Article 45
Everyone has the right to freely disseminate ideas, opinions, beliefs, and other information in words, print, images, or other ways. This right may be restricted by law to protect public order, morals, the rights and freedoms of others, health, honor, and reputation. The law may also restrict this right for state and local government employees regarding state or trade secrets or confidential information learned in their official capacity, as well as to protect the privacy and family life of others or in the interests of justice.
There is no censorship.
These are the articles of the Estonian Constitution.
In September 2024, I shared a post on my Facebook account – an Excel table created by someone else that showed where the current government planned to allocate taxpayer money in the state budget. I shared it!
Minutes after sharing, I received a notification from fact-checkers stating that my account had been temporarily suspended for spreading misinformation, and I could contest the decision within 180 days. I contested it immediately.
Next, the fact-checkers demanded I send them my photo to confirm that I was not a robot. I sent it.
After that, they requested a copy of my ID card. At that point, I hit the brakes. Who or what exactly are these fact-checkers to demand my personal data?! What’s next? My bank account details along with login codes? Or perhaps the personal data and banking information of my family members – all to prove I’m not a robot?
Shall we continue pretending that, according to Article 45 of the Constitution, there is no censorship in Estonia?
Delfi’s fact-checking team is the censorship mechanism of Estonia. They have systematically restricted the personal freedoms and fundamental rights of Estonian citizens arbitrarily and with impunity. Until now.
Trump’s victory in the U.S. elections has led to the removal of Facebook’s fact-checkers in the U.S., as they are essentially a censorship group. I hope the same happens in Estonia.
But as for these censors… their names must be made public, and they should face trial and real prison sentences. Let them check their facts from behind bars!
/ Margo Luarvik /
