Are any subjects or contents off-limits for publication in &quot;free-speech&quot; countries?
<p>Even if a government claims to respect "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech" rel="nofollow">freedom of speech</a>," are there any topics that can be prohibited from publication?</p>

<p>Examples might be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Fester_(author)" rel="nofollow">Uncle Fester books</a> or WikiLeaks.</p>

<p>What a country <em>claims</em> to be the case certainly doesn't guarantee what <em>is</em> the case. The <a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Democratic_People&#39;s_Republic_of_Korea_%282012%29#Chapter_V._Fundamental_Rights_and_Duties_of_Citizens" rel="noreferrer">constitution</a> (at least as of 2012) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (aka North Korea) says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Article 67. Citizens are guaranteed freedom of speech, the press, assembly, demonstration and association. The State shall guarantee the conditions for the free activities of democratic political parties and social organizations.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Needless to say, North Korea is not generally considered a bastion of free speech. The People's Republic of China has a similar provision in its constitution.</p>

<p>When we get to countries where those <em>outside</em> the country consider there to be some level of freedom of speech, there are still restrictions. In the UK, the Official Secrets Act makes it a crime for any person to republish leaked classified information. Germany makes it illegal to deny that the Holocaust happened. Until 2013, Canada made it illegal for a person to use telecommunications to say something that would expose people to hatred for some reason covered by antidiscrimination law. Many, many countries criminalize child pornography. Many, many countries have copyright laws.</p>

<p>"Free speech" does not mean "you can say whatever you want and the government can't stop you." It means "as a <em>general rule</em>, the government can't restrict what you're saying because they don't like it." I am unaware of any country with a functional government with unfettered freedom of speech.</p>

freedom-of-speech