‘Pressure on Europe not to regulate social media shows free expression has become a commodity’

In this episode, we hand over the mic to Dr Irene Khan, an internationally recognized leading voice in the defence of human rights, gender equality, and social justice. She is currently the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, becoming the first woman to hold the position. 

Khan has been a leader on some of the most pressing issues of our time, as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, where she served for over two decades; at Amnesty International, its first female Secretary General; and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), which she led from 2012 to 2019.

Speaking with hosts Christine Mhundwa and Elisa Díaz Gras, Dr Khan enlightens us on complex issues such as digital regulation, human rights and Europe's role in shaping global tech governance. Dr Khan highlights the weaponisation and commodification of freedom of expression, noting how some governments and companies promote only certain types of speech, undermining democratic values. 

The goal for Europe, she asserts, should be to 'create a system that is going to operate well no matter which part of the world you are in, when it comes to digital technology', adopting a truly global approach. She believes that 'this is an opportunity for Europe to play a leadership role, but it has to be an inclusive leadership role. We are not going back to Colonialism 2.0. Europe needs to recognize that is has partners on the other side - equal partners.'