Roundtable on Generative AI and Freedom of Expression

December 1, 2025

Örebro University

Agenda

The roundtable will explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) reshapes freedom of expression, both as a driver of creativity and a new regulatory frontier.

Building on The Future of Free Speech’s report, “That Violates My Policies: AI Laws, Chatbots and the Future of Expression,” the meeting aims to:

Examine the relationship between generative AI and freedom of expression;
Examine how AI governance shapes democratic dialogue;
Debate legal, normative, and societal approaches to AI and free speech;
Discuss rights-based alternatives to ensure AI systems serve open, pluralistic discourse.

Örebro’s participation is part of the project “Private Rule-Making and European Governance of AI & Robotics,” funded by The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program Humanities and Society (WASP-HS).

Locations: Örebro University

Buffet Lunch — Fakultetsklubben in Entrehuset (The Faculty Club in the Entrance Hall)

Roundtable — Hörsal M (Lecture Hall “M” in the Music School, ground floor, behind the big Concert Hall) Roundtable

Networking Drinks — Ljuspunkten

Conference Program

11:45 – 12:00 | Registration & Introduction

Jordi Calvet-Bademunt
The Future of Free Speech

Katalin Kelemen
Örebro University

12:00 – 12:45 | Welcome Lunch & Keynote Speech

Carmen Butler
Swedish Post and Telecom Authority

13:00 – 13:15 | Keynote Speech

Eric Heinze
Queen Mary University of London

Location: Hörsal M

13:15 – 14:15 | Panel 1 | Artificial Intelligence and Freedom of Speech: Legal and Normative Dimensions

10 minutes per speaker, followed by a 15-minute Q&A Session

Marco Bassini and Giovana Lopes | Tilburg University
“Generative AI as Speech: Rethinking Constitutional Coverage”

Silvia A. Carretta | Copenhagen Business School, Women in AI
“The Politics of Moderation: EU Regulations and the Algorithmic Governance of Digital Speech”

Khaled Mansour | The Oversight Board
“Oversight and Accountability: Lessons from Platform Governance”

Yulia Razmetaeva | Uppsala University, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University
“Freedom of Thought, AI and the Future of the Public Sphere”

Moderated by: Martin Ebers
Örebro University, University of Tartu, Robotics & AI Law Society

14:20 – 15:40 | Panel 2 | AI, Civil Society and Global Challenges to Free Expression

10 minutes per speaker, followed by a 15-minute Q&A Session

Mahishaa Balraj | Stanford University, Hashtag Generation
“AI at the Crossroads of Youth Activism: Voices from the Global South”

Sebastian Becker Castellaro | International IDEA
“Safeguarding Democratic Dialogue in the Age of Algorithms”

J.B. Branch | Public Citizen
“From Tech Accountability to Algorithmic Justice: Civil Society’s Next Battle”

Elonnai Hickok | Global Network Initiative
“Human Rights by Design: Embedding Free-Expression Principles into AI Governance”

Leda Tortora | Independent Consultant on Online Safety
“From Platform Power to Public Participation: Reimagining AI Content Governance”

Erik Uszkiewicz | Hungarian Europe Society, Center for Independent Journalism
“Media Freedom and Disinformation before the Parliamentary Election in Hungary”

Moderated by: Emmanuel Vargas Penagos
Örebro University

15:45 – 16:45 | Expert Commentary on FoFS’ Report: “That Violates My Policies. AI Laws, Chatbots, and the Future of Expression”

5 minutes per speaker, followed by a 15-minute Q&A Session

Gionata Bouché
IViR, University of Amsterdam

Mwai Daka
University of Worcester

Ishu Gupta
Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, City of Green Bay

Luisa F. Isaza-Ibarra
University of Groningen

Konrad Kiljan
CEE Digital Democracy Watch

Atdhe Lila
Institute for Technology and Society

Karin Rudolph
Collective Intelligence

Gizem Yardimci
ADVANCE CRT, Maynooth University

Obasesam Okoi
University of St. Thomas

Moderated by: Alexander Hohlfeld & Jordi Calvet-Bademunt
The Future of Free Speech