Will AI bring us together or drive us apart?
At Doha Debates, we believe that debate can help solve some of the world’s most challenging problems. But are there limits to what free speech and debate can accomplish?
Social media has allowed more people to connect and share their perspectives than ever before. That has led to an immense amount of learning and progress, but it’s also led to an uptick in hate speech and misinformation, online and IRL. Today, anyone can have a platform—but should they? Is everything up for debate, or should some things be out of bounds?
Jacob Mchangama, founder and executive director of The Future of Free Speech think tank, argues that free speech and open debate are the only ways to build and secure open and tolerant societies. He thinks we should all be able to speak our minds, and says that engaging with people and perspectives we disagree with can help sharpen our own opinions or help us learn something new. Author and journalist David Stubbs says that unlimited free speech tends to favor extreme voices and that certain ideas, like climate denial, don’t deserve a platform and are “just plain wrong.”
Our other podcasts
Lana
A podcast in Arabic for today’s generation to discuss their outlook on the world, hosted by Rawaa Augé.
Necessary Tomorrows
Mixing speculative fiction and documentary, leading sci-fi authors bring us three futures that seem like fantasy. We meet the writers who dream of these futures and the activists, scientists and thinkers who are turning fiction into fact.
The Long Game
The Long Game highlights stories of courage and conviction on and off the field. Activist and Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad guides the series and examines the power of sport to change the world for the better.