At this How We Argue event, Dr Arif Ahmed MBE, Professor Mona Siddiqui OBE and Jim Dickinson explore why freedom of speech is a frequent topic of arguments.

In today's world, where the mediascape is undergoing repeated crises, what counts as information has become a bewildering concept. With social media providing a platform where anyone can share their opinions, questions are raised around what can and can’t – or should and shouldn’t – be said.

Add misunderstandings over what is covered by 'the right to freedom of expression’ under the Human Rights Act 1998, the spread of misinformation both on- and offline, and an increasingly polarised society, and you have the perfect foundations for an argument.

Nowhere is this debate more apparent than at universities, with no-platforming protests and academic disagreements often hitting the headlines. The introduction of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, which came into force on 1 August 2025, shows that this issue has even caught the attention of government.

As we move through a period of profound transformation and transition, shaped by social media and so-called AI, understanding the development of arguments about freedom of speech is more important than ever.

About the event

How We Argue: About Freedom of Speech is the latest in a series of discussions, hosted by the Global Cultures Institute, which tackle contentious matters at the centre of public life and public debate, and explore how arguments take shape, unfold, intensify and break down.

A Q&A and a drinks reception will follow the main panel discussion.

About the speakers

Our panellists for the evening are Dr Arif Ahmed MBE, Professor Mona Siddiqui OBE and Jim Dickinson.

The event will be chaired by Professor Abigail Williams, incoming Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities at King's.

Dr Arif Ahmed MBE

Events

Events

How We Argue: About Freedom of Speech

Events

How We Argue: About Freedom of Speech