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When freedom becomes a threat | Maria Källsson | TEDxGöteborg


[Music]

[Music] in most Western world countries we share

in most Western world countries we share

in most Western world countries we share it and we safeguard the freedom of

it and we safeguard the freedom of

it and we safeguard the freedom of expression we expect to be able to

expression we expect to be able to

expression we expect to be able to express ourselves and share our opinions

express ourselves and share our opinions

express ourselves and share our opinions without any limitation censorship or

without any limitation censorship or

without any limitation censorship or risks of punishment that is the

risks of punishment that is the

risks of punishment that is the foundation of a well functioning

foundation of a well functioning

foundation of a well functioning democracy but what happens if we use

democracy but what happens if we use

democracy but what happens if we use this freedom to express ourselves to

this freedom to express ourselves to

this freedom to express ourselves to spread hate or lies and when media is

spread hate or lies and when media is

spread hate or lies and when media is focusing on a good story and

focusing on a good story and

focusing on a good story and sensationalism rather than to share

sensationalism rather than to share

sensationalism rather than to share knowledge and check facts when it is

knowledge and check facts when it is

knowledge and check facts when it is more important to write something witty

more important to write something witty

more important to write something witty on Twitter to enhance the personal

on Twitter to enhance the personal

on Twitter to enhance the personal trademark than to share knowledge as I

trademark than to share knowledge as I

trademark than to share knowledge as I was presented just before here my

was presented just before here my

was presented just before here my day-to-day business is to organize and

day-to-day business is to organize and

day-to-day business is to organize and to plan an annual event a book fair and

to plan an annual event a book fair and

to plan an annual event a book fair and the channel of the book fair is of

the channel of the book fair is of

the channel of the book fair is of course freedom of expression we whether

course freedom of expression we whether

course freedom of expression we whether we organize with literature as the main

we organize with literature as the main

we organize with literature as the main ingredients debates discussions and of

ingredients debates discussions and of

ingredients debates discussions and of course seminars but this year we also

course seminars but this year we also

course seminars but this year we also had a main focus and this was freedom of

had a main focus and this was freedom of

had a main focus and this was freedom of expression but little did we know then

expression but little did we know then

expression but little did we know then how explosive explosive this would turn

how explosive explosive this would turn

how explosive explosive this would turn out and what we were about to experience

out and what we were about to experience

out and what we were about to experience one year earlier when we announced the

one year earlier when we announced the

one year earlier when we announced the announced this thing at the end of the

announced this thing at the end of the

announced this thing at the end of the summer about one month before the book

summer about one month before the book

summer about one month before the book fair

fair

fair was about to open the culture discussion

was about to open the culture discussion

was about to open the culture discussion in Sweden was very much focused upon one

in Sweden was very much focused upon one

in Sweden was very much focused upon one question whether one small exhibitor

question whether one small exhibitor

question whether one small exhibitor should be participating at the other boy

should be participating at the other boy

should be participating at the other boy book fair or not and this exhibitor had

book fair or not and this exhibitor had

book fair or not and this exhibitor had some extreme viewpoints noteworthy is

some extreme viewpoints noteworthy is

some extreme viewpoints noteworthy is that the same exhibitor was am at the

that the same exhibitor was am at the

that the same exhibitor was am at the fair 2013 but at that time no one

fair 2013 but at that time no one

fair 2013 but at that time no one notices or noticed it or put some

notices or noticed it or put some

notices or noticed it or put some attention to it because I think there

attention to it because I think there

attention to it because I think there were other times in 2013 now back to

were other times in 2013 now back to

were other times in 2013 now back to 2016 this debate divided the cultural

2016 this debate divided the cultural

2016 this debate divided the cultural Sweden into two halves where is one half

Sweden into two halves where is one half

Sweden into two halves where is one half thought in the name of the freedom of

thought in the name of the freedom of

thought in the name of the freedom of expression this exhibitor should be

expression this exhibitor should be

expression this exhibitor should be there and the other 4th thought that

there and the other 4th thought that

there and the other 4th thought that these viewpoints were way too extreme

these viewpoints were way too extreme

these viewpoints were way too extreme they should not be there but this wasn’t

they should not be there but this wasn’t

they should not be there but this wasn’t just something for the media anymore the

just something for the media anymore the

just something for the media anymore the response in social media were enormous

response in social media were enormous

response in social media were enormous and the pressure upon us our website was

and the pressure upon us our website was

and the pressure upon us our website was overloaded and collapsed our Facebook

overloaded and collapsed our Facebook

overloaded and collapsed our Facebook was overflowed with comments and there

was overflowed with comments and there

was overflowed with comments and there were thousands of tweets about it the

were thousands of tweets about it the

were thousands of tweets about it the exhibitors radical opinions cost strong

exhibitors radical opinions cost strong

exhibitors radical opinions cost strong emotion and there is nothing strange

emotion and there is nothing strange

emotion and there is nothing strange with that it’s not strange that the

with that it’s not strange that the

with that it’s not strange that the media reported quite frequently about

media reported quite frequently about

media reported quite frequently about this either but what was frightening for

this either but what was frightening for

this either but what was frightening for us was in what tone this discussion was

us was in what tone this discussion was

us was in what tone this discussion was held the way and the tone that one was

held the way and the tone that one was

held the way and the tone that one was expressing themselves created a debate

expressing themselves created a debate

expressing themselves created a debate without any filters at all the

without any filters at all the

without any filters at all the discussion was whipped into frenzy

discussion was whipped into frenzy

discussion was whipped into frenzy traditional media social media

traditional media social media

traditional media social media and even email and phone phone calls

and even email and phone phone calls

and even email and phone phone calls were pouring out hate and even personal

were pouring out hate and even personal

were pouring out hate and even personal attacks and threats were evident it

attacks and threats were evident it

attacks and threats were evident it became impossible to have a discussion

became impossible to have a discussion

became impossible to have a discussion because no facts were checked and there

because no facts were checked and there

because no facts were checked and there were so many rumors flourishing about

were so many rumors flourishing about

were so many rumors flourishing about this issue in different angles well to

this issue in different angles well to

this issue in different angles well to make wise and weld informed decisions

make wise and weld informed decisions

make wise and weld informed decisions under these conditions is nothing there

under these conditions is nothing there

under these conditions is nothing there would recommend any of you we notified

would recommend any of you we notified

would recommend any of you we notified something that the polarized political

something that the polarized political

something that the polarized political climate that this issue has raised in

climate that this issue has raised in

climate that this issue has raised in Sweden and also the use of the social

Sweden and also the use of the social

Sweden and also the use of the social media platforms were interacting with

media platforms were interacting with

media platforms were interacting with one another people stick to their

one another people stick to their

one another people stick to their opinion you only share the posts or the

opinion you only share the posts or the

opinion you only share the posts or the articles that you share the same view

articles that you share the same view

articles that you share the same view with okay so here we were in the center

with okay so here we were in the center

with okay so here we were in the center of this infected debate how would we go

of this infected debate how would we go

of this infected debate how would we go on a book fair is about reflecting the

on a book fair is about reflecting the

on a book fair is about reflecting the society it’s about discussions free

society it’s about discussions free

society it’s about discussions free opinions of course and the place for

opinions of course and the place for

opinions of course and the place for debates and for new opinions to be

debates and for new opinions to be

debates and for new opinions to be formed but most of all and above it all

formed but most of all and above it all

formed but most of all and above it all it is the place for persons to meet and

it is the place for persons to meet and

it is the place for persons to meet and what would our future as a book fair be

what would our future as a book fair be

what would our future as a book fair be like with a tone in the society like the

like with a tone in the society like the

like with a tone in the society like the ones I just described because no matter

ones I just described because no matter

ones I just described because no matter what we think about extreme views they

what we think about extreme views they

what we think about extreme views they are now a part of the public debate and

are now a part of the public debate and

are now a part of the public debate and especially on the social media and

especially on the social media and

especially on the social media and whether the debate includes these

whether the debate includes these

whether the debate includes these extreme views or not we cannot use the

extreme views or not we cannot use the

extreme views or not we cannot use the same rhetoric that they do that these

same rhetoric that they do that these

same rhetoric that they do that these movements do hate can never be an option

movements do hate can never be an option

movements do hate can never be an option a wii mod must act upon this according

a wii mod must act upon this according

a wii mod must act upon this according to the swedish pen hate culture is the

to the swedish pen hate culture is the

to the swedish pen hate culture is the biggest threat towards the freedom of

biggest threat towards the freedom of

biggest threat towards the freedom of expression in Sweden today they the

expression in Sweden today they the

expression in Sweden today they the Swedish pan has started a project aimed

Swedish pan has started a project aimed

Swedish pan has started a project aimed at politicians and at schools among

at politicians and at schools among

at politicians and at schools among others in order to increase the

others in order to increase the

others in order to increase the awareness of hate speech culture and to

awareness of hate speech culture and to

awareness of hate speech culture and to how it is affecting the society we need

how it is affecting the society we need

how it is affecting the society we need to notice this is hate speech this is a

to notice this is hate speech this is a

to notice this is hate speech this is a good example if we can notice it we can

good example if we can notice it we can

good example if we can notice it we can pay attention to it but we need to

pay attention to it but we need to

pay attention to it but we need to remark and and when we answer to it we

remark and and when we answer to it we

remark and and when we answer to it we cannot use the same tone we are all able

cannot use the same tone we are all able

cannot use the same tone we are all able to go public with our thoughts and

to go public with our thoughts and

to go public with our thoughts and writing almost every day that used to be

writing almost every day that used to be

writing almost every day that used to be a privilege for publishers but we can

a privilege for publishers but we can

a privilege for publishers but we can all be publishers today but this also

all be publishers today but this also

all be publishers today but this also needs that we need to act as publishers

needs that we need to act as publishers

needs that we need to act as publishers there are some important skills that we

there are some important skills that we

there are some important skills that we all need to reckon upon of course the

all need to reckon upon of course the

all need to reckon upon of course the ability to check sources to see if they

ability to check sources to see if they

ability to check sources to see if they are valid and a second very important

are valid and a second very important

are valid and a second very important skill is the responsibility to reflect

skill is the responsibility to reflect

skill is the responsibility to reflect upon the consequences of what we write

upon the consequences of what we write

upon the consequences of what we write and one’s views and statements this is

and one’s views and statements this is

and one’s views and statements this is important for all citizens but we must

important for all citizens but we must

important for all citizens but we must learn it in an early age it has to start

learn it in an early age it has to start

learn it in an early age it has to start in school and we also had to acknowledge

in school and we also had to acknowledge

in school and we also had to acknowledge acknowledge the broad knowledge of how

acknowledge the broad knowledge of how

acknowledge the broad knowledge of how media operates its crews it’s crucial

media operates its crews it’s crucial

media operates its crews it’s crucial and we not we need to start as soon as

and we not we need to start as soon as

and we not we need to start as soon as we get the smartphone when we are seven

we get the smartphone when we are seven

we get the smartphone when we are seven or eight years old and as I said before

or eight years old and as I said before

or eight years old and as I said before this can’t be underlined too many times

this can’t be underlined too many times

this can’t be underlined too many times no matter how we respond to extremism we

no matter how we respond to extremism we

no matter how we respond to extremism we must never use the rhetoric as

must never use the rhetoric as

must never use the rhetoric as movements use hate has no place in

movements use hate has no place in

movements use hate has no place in society not in any conversation not in

society not in any conversation not in

society not in any conversation not in social media not in book fairs and not

social media not in book fairs and not

social media not in book fairs and not in the public debate and we should not

in the public debate and we should not

in the public debate and we should not underestimate to meet and to be met in

underestimate to meet and to be met in

underestimate to meet and to be met in person the solution can sound naive but

person the solution can sound naive but

person the solution can sound naive but I tend to believe in it I have an

I tend to believe in it I have an

I tend to believe in it I have an example the last day of the book fair

example the last day of the book fair

example the last day of the book fair this year we gathered for of our critics

this year we gathered for of our critics

this year we gathered for of our critics in a seminar and we asked them please

in a seminar and we asked them please

in a seminar and we asked them please judge our actions and sure there was

judge our actions and sure there was

judge our actions and sure there was some criticism but still there was a

some criticism but still there was a

some criticism but still there was a when we met them I to I there was

when we met them I to I there was

when we met them I to I there was another tone another type of

another tone another type of

another tone another type of conversation and we both want you to

conversation and we both want you to

conversation and we both want you to come forward and understanding each

come forward and understanding each

come forward and understanding each other we also asked these four people so

other we also asked these four people so

other we also asked these four people so which voices do you think should be

which voices do you think should be

which voices do you think should be allowed in the public debate because

allowed in the public debate because

allowed in the public debate because this is what this question was about and

this is what this question was about and

this is what this question was about and we were struck back the fact that when

we were struck back the fact that when

we were struck back the fact that when these people met in person and discussed

these people met in person and discussed

these people met in person and discussed it face-to-face even though they had a

it face-to-face even though they had a

it face-to-face even though they had a harsh tone when they wrote in their

harsh tone when they wrote in their

harsh tone when they wrote in their columns and they had different angles

columns and they had different angles

columns and they had different angles when these four people match they

when these four people match they

when these four people match they started to move this kind of hard

started to move this kind of hard

started to move this kind of hard dilemma forward and started to interact

dilemma forward and started to interact

dilemma forward and started to interact with each other understand each other’s

with each other understand each other’s

with each other understand each other’s views there was a desire to understand

views there was a desire to understand

views there was a desire to understand someone else’s viewpoint so my

someone else’s viewpoint so my

someone else’s viewpoint so my conclusion therefore freedom of

conclusion therefore freedom of

conclusion therefore freedom of expression must always be protected

expression must always be protected

expression must always be protected absolutely but we need to discuss

absolutely but we need to discuss

absolutely but we need to discuss further how this freedom is used what is

further how this freedom is used what is

further how this freedom is used what is appropriate in any given situation to

appropriate in any given situation to

appropriate in any given situation to say or to publish and hate should never

say or to publish and hate should never

say or to publish and hate should never be an ingredient lost Lee this is

be an ingredient lost Lee this is

be an ingredient lost Lee this is something for you all to to take with

something for you all to to take with

something for you all to to take with you when you leave this building today

you when you leave this building today

you when you leave this building today the words you choose the tone question

the words you choose the tone question

the words you choose the tone question yourself next time you disagree with

yourself next time you disagree with

yourself next time you disagree with someone try to engage in a conversation

someone try to engage in a conversation

someone try to engage in a conversation with your opponent why on what grounds

with your opponent why on what grounds

with your opponent why on what grounds do this person think as he or she does

do this person think as he or she does

do this person think as he or she does can you kindly and with well-founded

can you kindly and with well-founded

can you kindly and with well-founded arguments explain to them your point of

arguments explain to them your point of

arguments explain to them your point of view maybe you can solve these problems

view maybe you can solve these problems

view maybe you can solve these problems or dilemmas together

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

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