“Freedom of expression and the quest for truth are the frontlines of our time”

On 20 September, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) will gather at Brussels’ Koninklijk Circus for the Feest van de Vrije Geest, or Celebration of the Open Mind. This event marks the opening of the new academic year and celebrates the values that the university steadfastly upholds: critical thinking, freedom of speech, the right to self-determination, solidarity and connectedness. As part of the evening programme, six renowned guest speakers will share what the concept of freedom means to them, through a short speech or performance. Among them is Rudi Vranckx, a VRT journalist specialising in war reporting and conflict resolution.

What does an open mind mean to you?

“It’s the essence, the lifeblood of my job. Good journalism is only possible when you detach yourself from political or religious pressure. You can provide context and interpretation, but the facts must remain sacred. That’s the only sanctity I recognise.”

Who do you consider a role model in terms of free speech?

“Caroline Pauwels, with her concept of ‘truth against power’ – the pursuit of truth in defiance of authority. And my grandfather. When I was 12, I had a bit of a run-in with the village priest. My grandfather said, ‘The priest is good for teaching you the Ten Commandments, but from now on, you need to start thinking for yourself.’ I’ve never forgotten that.”

How tolerant are you yourself? Would you ‘cancel’ someone?

“The amount of hate and threats I receive on social media was already significant, and after 7 October, it only got worse. I have no patience for that anymore. If someone doesn’t respect the basic rules of mature communication, I block them. I call it weeding out the bad stuff.”

"Seven high-tech companies now dictate, through their algorithms, what ‘the truth’ is"

They say that many a true word is spoken in jest. Have we become too serious?

“Humour is under threat. In the Middle Ages, the court jester was allowed to criticise those in power. Today, that role is taken on by people like Bassem Youssef, who hosted a satirical TV show during the Egyptian uprising. He had to flee to the United States. Satire reveals that the emperor is naked. We need shows like Les Guignols de l’info and Spitting Image.”

Have you ever censored yourself or felt pressured not to express certain things?

“When you work in a dictatorship or among religious extremists, you learn to stay silent for your own safety. But afterwards, I say what needs to be said. In Syria, I ended up on a blacklist. A colleague was killed right next to me and Assad’s regime wanted me to go on television and claim the rebels were to blame. I had my doubts and refused.”

Is freedom of expression under threat? What do you see as the biggest danger?

“Freedom of expression, in the sense of the quest for truth, has become the frontline of our time. During the Arab Spring, I briefly thought social media would become the ultimate tool for freedom, but they turned into tools of obscuration and extremism. Seven high-tech companies now dictate, through their algorithms, what ‘the truth’ is and what we should think. The most insidious example is Elon Musk, the Darth Vader of our time. X has become a sewer, where people can spread misinformation to millions. The challenge for journalists and politicians is enormous. I wonder if it’s too late to rein in these companies’ power. Hopefully, Europe can act as a counterforce.”