How shall we meet threats to freedom of expression on the Internet?

How shall we meet threats to freedom of expression on the Internet?

Hear Professor David Kaye lecture on “Continuing Threats – and Continuing Confusions – Over Freedom of Expression” followed by a Q&A from the audience.

When? Wednesday 10 April, 17:15–18:45

Where? LUX:B251.

David Kaye is professor of law at the University of California, Irvine, and the 2023–2024 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in Public International Law at Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Lund. In 2014–2020 Professor Kaye served as UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression. In that capacity he has written reports on China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Turkey, and Thailand.

In his 2019 book, Speech Police: The Global Struggle to Govern the Internet (Columbia Global Reports), Professor Kaye explored the ways in which companies, governments and activists struggle to define the rules for online expression. In his lecture, he will not only address the challenges to free speech on the internet, but also suggest how these can be met through law and technology.

Professor Kaye frames his lecture thus: “From the internet to university campuses, art museums to the role of journalism, hate speech to disinformation, people debate the meaning, value and limits of freedom of expression for democracies. We see threats from governments and corporate actors, even those that claim – often disingenuously – to be standing up for free speech. What are the main threads of the current threat to freedom of expression? How ought we conceptualize freedom of expression so that it is a value embraced within democratic societies? What role exists for law in advancing free speech?”

The lecture is hosted by the Division of Book History together with Lund Centre for the History of Knowledge (LUCK).