David Kaye with WAC of Greater Houston

“There is an epidemic sweeping the world,” the Nigerian Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said. “It is the epidemic of fake news. Mixed with hate speech, it is a disaster waiting to happen.” 

Some argue that the disaster has already happened. But who should decide whether content should be removed from platforms, or which users should be kicked off?

David Kaye, one of the world’s leading voices on human rights in the digital age, deals with these issues on a daily basis as the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression. His new book, Speech Police, brings us behind the scenes, from Facebook’s “mini-legislative” meetings to the European Commission’s closed-door negotiations, and introduces journalists, activists, and content moderators who take down a virtual flood of photos, videos and text every day. He tells the story of people around the world who are trying to get it right while facing an almost impossible task—with massive consequences for users and the public.

Please join Columbia Global Reports and World Affairs Council of Houston on the evening of Monday, September 9 for a discussion with Speech Police author and United Nations Special Rapporteur David Kaye.