Joan Barata took part in the “Democracy in the 21st Century” symposium, organised by Institute H21 in Prague, where he addressed growing challenges to freedom of expression in the digital environment.
His intervention focused on regulatory pressure, “jawboning” and emerging forms of privatised censorship. As digital platforms increasingly shape how speech circulates, Barata highlighted the importance of who sets the rules, how decisions are made and what safeguards protect freedom of expression.
The discussion was supported by the Prague Centre for Media Skills (PCMS), a Prague-based nonprofit working at the intersection of media, technology, human rights and democratic resilience.
The symposium brought together experts from different fields to examine the challenges facing democratic participation and the information environment in the 21st century.