re:publica Vienna: DEFENDABLE, CONTROVERSIAL, PUNISHABLE: WHO PROTECTS FREEDOM OF OPINION FROM ITS GUARDIANS? - RONEN STEINKE

10/9/2026

Who actually decides in Germany and Austria what is still opinion, what is already a danger, and what is already punishable? Based on his new book "Freedom of Speech," he shows how quickly the protection of open debate can turn into the restriction of what can be said: through police, justice, political agitation, and laws that often start with the best intentions. A lecture about the freedom to be wrong and a plea for an open society that tolerates dissent instead of punishing it.

Are those in Germany and Austria actually the ones deciding what is still opinion, what is already danger, and what is already punishable? Based on his new book "Freedom of Speech," he shows how quickly the protection of open debate can turn into the restriction of what can be said: through police, justice, political agitation, and laws that often start with the best intentions. A lecture about the freedom to be wrong and a plea for an open society that tolerates dissent instead of punishing it. The first re:publica Vienna brought the most important European festival for digital society, politics, technology, and culture to Austria for the first time. From October 2 to 3, 2026, the Kulturhaus Brotfabrik became a place for debates and keynotes with international speakers. The teams from OKTO and Moment Magazin recorded the events and have been presenting the videos since October 5 in the slots at 6:00 PM and 11:10 PM.