Ladies and Gentlemen.  

Colleagues.

Defenders of free speech.

We meet at a moment when the principles we care about the most – openness, truth, and democratic participation – are under extraordinary pressure.

Around the world, civic space is shrinking.

Journalists are threatened.

Killed.

Activists are silenced.

Public debate is increasingly shaped by manipulation and algorithms rather than dialogue.

These are perilous times for our democracies.

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At such a time, few issues are more vital than the freedom to disagree.

It is the foundation of every open society, the precondition for every democratic advance.

A robust public sphere is a necessary infrastructure of democracies, on par with courts, elections, or parliaments.

It allows societies to correct mistakes, expose wrongdoings, and innovate.

We must recognize this:

Disagreement is not a threat.

It is not a problem.

On the contrary: A society without disagreement cannot thrive, because without the freedom to disagree, early warnings are lost.

New ideas are lost.

The truth is lost.

The Norwegian Government’s «Expression Preparedness»-strategy, which was launched in September last year, embraces what we call a «culture of disagreement».

The idea is that a democracy is not a fixed set of values, but a system for the peaceful management of disagreement.

It is not founded on consensus, but on a willingness to engage in dialogue and cooperation.

Because a society without disagreement quickly becomes brittle.

It cannot adapt.

It cannot learn.

And it cannot protect itself from the blind spots that arise when people are afraid to speak up.

This is why open societies must not only tolerate disagreement; they must welcome it and protect it.

In my opinion, they should even subsidize it, by ensuring a strong media sector.

Independent institutions.

A vibrant civil society.

And robust legal protections that ensure people can speak freely without fear.

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And yet.

We must also recognize that there are limits to the positive force of disagreement.

We have seen how disagreement can tip into destructive polarization when societal divisions grow too deep, or when public debate becomes too hostile for meaningful dialogue.

Such a development may be fueled by disinformation, or even covert influence operations and election interference.  

Today, that risk is higher than before.

War, conflict, foreign interference, and new technologies – including generative AI – amplify tensions and accelerate the spread of harmful narratives. We are rage-baited into conflict.

This is why democratic preparedness must be long term, systematic, and rooted in trust.

Disinformation does not respect borders.

Digital platforms operate globally.

And the technologies shaping public debate evolve faster than any single country can regulate.

For this reason, Norway works closely with our partners in Europe and beyond to promote transparency, accountability, and responsible use of emerging technologies.

But cooperation must extend beyond governments.

It must include NGOs.

Researchers.

Journalists and activists

The people in this room, who often serve as the first line of defense when democratic norms are under attack.

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If we want freedom of expression to endure over time, we must invest in the next generation.

Young people today navigate an information environment far more complex than any generation before them.

They face algorithmic feeds.

AI-generated content.

Online spaces where truth and falsehood often look identical.

To participate confidently in democratic life, they need a different skill set to what we in the older generations needed when we were young:

They need fine-tuned skills of critical thinking and media literacy.

They need the confidence to voice opinions in a digital landscape where those opinions are available globally, and potentially forever.

They need the tools and self-assurance to deal not only with differing opinions and criticism, but – unfortunately – in some cases also with harassment and bullying.

And not least, they need a deep understanding and appreciation of what democracy and freedom of expression are.

What it would mean to lose them.

Teaching young people the value of free expression – and giving them the tools to use it responsibly – is therefore one of the most important long term investments any democracy can make.

But we, as adults, need to engage.

Research from the Norwegian Media Authority shows that children are exposed to large amounts of harmful and illegal content on social media.

This is serious.

We can’t just leave kids to fend for themselves on digital platforms, any more than we’d let them wander alone into traffic.

This government wants to ensure a safe digital environment for children.

That’s why the Labour-Party wants to introduce an age limit for social media, while at the same time protecting children’s right to freedom of expression and access to information.

This may sound like a paradox, but it is not a new challenge.  

The balancing act between free expression and protection from harmful content, has been a recurring theme with the introduction of every new form of media throughout history.

The trick is to get the balance right.

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Ultimately, the freedom to disagree is not protected by governments alone.

It is protected by people.

Citizens who participate.

Question.

Challenge and listen.

Communities that insist on the right to speak openly.

It is protected by journalists who investigate.

By researchers who illuminate.

By artists who provoke and by organizations who champion marginalized voices.

And yes. 

We can all feel discouraged when attempts at constructive debate end in harsh rhetoric.

In personal attacks.

Even in threats and harassment, as we have seen towards youth politicians here in Norway this spring.

When the space for expression narrows.

When voices are barred from taking part.

But I believe the effort is paramount.

I believe the fight is about our most fundamental values, and I believe the fight can be won.

Because in the end, a healthy and open culture of expression – one that shows tolerance for differing opinions and makes room for diversity – is what makes us a strong and free society.

And we cannot accept that our freedom of expression is abridged.

Thank you.