How free is free speech?

Where does a society draw the line between free speech and dangerous and inflammatory views? The events in Paris in the last week have triggered this debate. Perhaps the aftermath of the barbaric murder of staff at the French publication Charlie Hebdo is not the best time to have a reasoned discussion about the limits on free speech.

Different cultures have different views on where the balance is to be found and what should be the consequences when the right to free speech is abused. Even in Australia we have limits. For example, few accept that men can catcall from building sites to passing females. Nor do many accept the right of people to "black up" or call indigenous people derogatory names, even when it is an attempt at humour.