By Jacob Mchangama Abstract In Western democracies, hate speech laws are frequently identified with the post-World War II order as enshrined in both national and international human rights law. Typically, such laws aim to prevent atrocities, as witnessed during the war, by protecting the equality and dignity of minorities from dehumanization and bigotry. Yet the […]
By Natalie Alkiviadou Introduction Generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly becoming embedded within everyday communication, information access, research, education, and public discourse. Tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and Meta AI are widely used by the public. Crucially, these systems function as intermediaries through which millions of users search for information, summarize material, […]
By Natalie Alkiviadou Abstract Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by social media platforms to tackle online hate speech. The sheer quantity of content, the speed at which it is developed and growing state pressure on companies to remove hate speech quickly from their platforms have led to a tricky situation. This commentary argues that […]
In the 2026 edition of our report, we explore how public governance of generative artificial intelligence (AI) shapes the space for free expression and access to information. Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, generative AI has moved from a novelty to a tool embedded in everyday communication and information access. As its reach has […]
By Natalie Alkiviadou and Jacob Mchangama Introduction In Germany, an artist and activist was arrested multiple times, once for wearing a Palestinian flag and again for holding a sign that read “from the river to the sea, we demand equality.” [1] In France, a mayor was held criminally liable, not for what he said, but […]
Executive Summary Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the way people access information and create content, pushing us to consider whether existing frameworks remain fit for purpose. Less than three years after ChatGPT’s launch, hundreds of millions of users now rely on models from OpenAI and other companies for learning, entertainment, and work. Against a […]
The UK government’s Commission for Countering Extremism commissioned Jacob Mchangama to contribute a piece to a collection of essays called “Countering extremism: defending free speech.” Jacob’s contribution was called, “From safety valve to pressure cooker: when silencing speech fuels extremism.” Read an excerpt below: Introduction: Free Expression as a Safety Valve In 1964, Nelson Mandela […]
Abstract This paper critically assesses the European approach to regulating online hate speech through platform liability frameworks, focusing on Germany’s Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) and the European Union’s Digital Services Act. It argues that these laws, while aiming to curb online harm, risk infringing on the right to freedom of expression and non-discrimination by delegating […]
In Hate Speech and the European Court of Human Rights, Natalie Alkiviadou argues that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) should reconsider its approach to hate speech cases and develop a robust protection of freedom of expression as set out in the benchmark case of Handyside v the United Kingdom. In that case, the […]
By Alexander Hohlfeld In her speech at the 2024 Copenhagen Democracy Summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen argued that Europe should not “fight the authoritarians or the extremes at their own game,” but instead “fight them by offering a positive vision of the future” that “protects what we hold dear – our democracy and our […]