Building Legal Awareness for Ethical Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age

Abstract

This community service program, conducted in collaboration with Senior High School 3 Batam, addresses the pressing issue of students’ limited legal awareness regarding freedom of expression in the digital era. Using a normative legal approach combined with educational outreach, the program emphasized constitutional guarantees, statutory boundaries, and ethical responsibilities associated with online communication. Through lectures, interactive discussions, and group activities, students explored the distinction between lawful expression and prohibited acts such as hate speech, defamation, and misinformation. The findings demonstrate that integrating legal literacy into school activities significantly enhances students’ understanding of their rights and obligations in digital spaces. Moreover, the program produced practical outputs, including modules and infographics, that can be institutionalized as sustainable learning resources. By bridging legal theory and everyday practice, this initiative contributes to strengthening responsible digital citizenship among students while reinforcing legal culture at the community level.