Global Trends in Freedom of Expression: Key Cases from 2025–2026

This session, led by Columbia Global Freedom of Expression, will highlight recent developments in global freedom of expression law through an overview of key cases from 2025–2026 across international and regional human rights systems. The discussion will be complemented by updates on new research initiatives, including work on the “chilling effect,” gender-based violence, and disinformation. The session will conclude with an interactive “database challenge,” inviting participants to explore CGFoE’s Global Case Law Database in a fun and engaging way.

Dr. Hawley Johnson

Dr. Hawley Johnson is the Associate Director of Columbia Global Freedom of Expression. Since 2014, she has led the development of the Case Law Database, which features analyses of landmark freedom of expression rulings from over 130 countries. She regularly serves as a judge for the Price Media Law Moot Court and supports the MENA regional rounds organized by Ain Shams Law School in Cairo, Egypt. Her research focuses on disinformation, hate speech, and platform regulation. 

Lautaro Furfaro

Lautaro Furfaro is Senior Legal Researcher at Columbia Global Freedom of Expression (Columbia University) and an Adjunct Professor of International Human Rights Law (University of Buenos Aires). His research focuses on comparative freedom of expression law across international and regional systems, especially issues of democratic discourse, privacy and data protection, platform governance, online speech, digital regulation, and artificial intelligence. He regularly serves as a judge at the international rounds of the Monroe E. Price Media Law Moot Court Competition and at the Argentine rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. He holds an LL.M. in International Legal Studies from NYU School of Law, where he received the Public Interest Law Prize, and has taught international law at Torcuato Di Tella University and the University of San Andrés. 

Ibrahim Sabra

Ibrahim Sabra is a legal researcher at the University of Vienna’s Department of Innovation and Digitalisation in Law, specialising in AI governance, privacy, and platform regulation. He focuses on the practical application of EU digital law, including compliance and fundamental rights assessments under the GDPR, DSA, and AI Act. He complements this work through mooting and experiential learning, contributing to the design and implementation of practice-based teaching, including courses, seminars, and simulation exercises.