Academic Freedom Under Attack
- Date
- 24 February 2026
- Time
- 17:00
- Location
- SPUI25
In this panel, organised by the AI, Media and Democracy Lab, we will explore how academic freedom is challenged today and why its defense matters not only for universities, but for journalism, public knowledge and democratic societies more broadly. The panel will also examine the challenges and opportunities that digital technologies and AI pose in this context.
Speakers include special guest Prof. Oscar Westlund (Professor at the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Oslo Metropolitan University and Editor-in-Chief of Digital Journalism) and Prof. Natali Helberger (Professor Law & Digital Technology, with a special focus on AI at University of Amsterdam).
The panel program will consist of short introductions by the speakers, followed by a moderated discussion and Q&A with the audience.
SPUI25 is the academic-cultural podium of Amsterdam. Since 2007, we have been giving scientists, authors, artists and other thinkers the opportunity to shine a light on issues that occupy, inspire or concern them. In cooperation with a large number of academic and cultural partners, we organize between 250 and 300 freely accessible programs per year. These are enriching, often interdisciplinary programs that move between science and culture, fact and fiction.
SPUI25 is one of the UvA-podia in the University Quarter.
