E31: Silencing voices — the war on civil liberties

When is infringing on civil liberties fair game against political opponents? 2023 has seen a depressing uptick in attacks on civil liberties in the name of political disagreement, from across the ideological spectrum. Jeremy Corbyn was a victim of a frivolous lawsuit to silence him.

Nigel Farage claimed his bank account was closed due to his controversial ‘values’. And across both sides of the Atlantic, prominent activists, journalists and influencers have been deplatformed or experienced financial repercussions as a consequence of their political stances. 

The list goes on. In this live discussion, we’ll be asking: Is it ever justifiable to curtail civil liberties, like freedom of speech and financial access, when the individuals involved hold polarising views? Or does this set a dangerous precedent for the erosion of democratic norms? Our diverse panel — including our own Yanis Varoufakis — will bring various perspectives to the table on the vital issue.

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