Funeral of Free Speech

On this solemn day, we gather to mourn the fading state of free speech.
CONCEPT:

The alarm bells of the 1930s are ringing again.
Many of us are coming to a troubling realization: freedom of expression is under pressure across the world. In countries that call themselves defenders of democracy, and in those that openly reject it, speech is increasingly regulated, restricted, or punished.
As The Washington Post — owned by Jeff Bezos — says, “Democracy dies in darkness.”
Let each of us be a candle that keeps the light alive.

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DISCUSSION HOMEWORK (For a more nuanced conversation — recommended but not required):

1. Government actions toward TikTok in the United States — bans, forced sale discussions, and national security debates
2. Consolidation and mergers in media corporations

• Skydance Media & Paramount Global (U.S.)
• NDTV ownership changes (India)

3. Arrests or disciplinary actions involving university students and journalists related to campus publications or protest reporting
4. Arrests of peaceful protestors in the UK under public order laws
5. Suppression of protest movements in Iran
6. Cases involving the killing or detention of journalists in conflict zones and authoritarian states
7. Media censorship, platform moderation, and speech regulation worldwide

And Most Importantly

8. The censoring of AI. The real life example are the 7 points mentioned above which were written originally by me and then put on Chat GPT which basically removed the names of several countries i. e. Saudi Arabia and Israel. AI generalised the language. To see the original language come to our event!

You are welcome to come, listen, question, and learn.

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PROGRAM STRUCTURE

1. Why are you here? — Your farewell message to free speech
2. Who — or what — is responsible for the decline of free expression?
3. What can we do to protect and strengthen it?

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GROUND RULES

• No bad-faith arguments
• No misinformation or unsupported claims
• Respectful disagreement is welcome
• Evidence beats slogans

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LOCATION
To be decided — somewhere in Helsinki.