In brief
During a packed evening at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, Barack Obama reminded audiences that the rise of online hate does not make extremism inevitable. He urged a careful balance of free speech and regulation, stressing that social media can both empower and harm. Obama reflected on his 2008 campaign, the promise of technology, and the need for truth‑finding in an era of AI‑generated misinformation. He reaffirmed his belief in hope and democracy, citing the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The former president’s remarks come as part of his UK tour, with future stops in Belfast and Manchester.
In a lively crowd of 12,150, Barack Obama took the stage at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro to deliver a message of optimism mixed with caution. The former U.S. President was on a UK tour that will see him speak next in Belfast and Manchester, a tour that raises his profile in the running winter past COP26.
'I see a drift toward extremism, but it is not inevitable,' Obama said, referring to the role of online platforms in flaring anger and fear. He noted that in 2008, as social media began to shape political conversation, he viewed it as a beacon of hope.
'The same tools that inspired one generation now can inspire another who turns to hate,' he warned. He said these platforms can both connect people for good and for ill, stressing that irresponsible use of technology can amplify division.
'If we choose to hold people—political or otherwise—responsible for misinformation and lies, we can prevent the sort of toxic spread of big lies that fuels violence,' Obama added. He cited post‑World War Two regulations in the U.S. and Europe to fight propaganda.
'We have to find a critical balance between protecting free speech and requiring accountability,' he argued. The former president called for new institutions that allow rigorous debate while making it easier to verify facts, especially as artificial intelligence makes it harder to say what is true.
'Hope is a decision,' Obama concluded, echoing the Martin Luther King Jr. quote he has used for years. He urged audiences to act on hope, to accept that change takes time but that trying is itself an act of faith.
