But in a world in which much of our discourse takes place online, can free speech still do the work it used to? What if, by seeing it as some kind of end in itself, its defenders actually miss what makes it so valuable? There has been much talk about the importance of free speech in recent weeks - and for understandable reasons: having the freedom to speak out without fear of punishment or censorship is tested in times of crisis. Simply sign up to the Technology myFT Digest - delivered directly to your inbox.