In brief
During his Glasgow speech, former President Barack Obama reminded audiences that hope is a choice and that violence and prejudice can be opposed with fact‑based dialogue. He warned that social media has increasingly become a conduit for anger and misinformation, but he said such a drift to extremism is not inevitable. Obama cited post‑war efforts to regulate propaganda and called for new institutions that balance free expression with accountability. He also raised concerns that artificial intelligence will blur truth, presenting a further challenge for democratic engagement.
Barack Obama addressed a crowd of over twelve thousand at the OVO Hydro, stressing that hope is worth fighting for even amid global challenges. He remarked that online platforms have moved toward feeding anger and fear, yet he believes the trend toward extremism is not inevitable.
Recounting his 2008 campaign, Obama said he once saw social media as a beacon of hope, but noted that the same tools can empower hate groups. He explained how “the reptilian side of our brain craves anger, fear… and the sense that somebody is out to get you,” making harmful content more likely to spread.
The former president cautioned that after World War Two, governments introduced rules to counter propaganda, a principle he argues we should revive. He highlighted the need for mechanisms and new institutions that allow rigorous debate while sifting through facts.
Obama warned that the current information diet is “not healthy” for the mind and that artificial intelligence could blur the line between truth and fiction, threatening democratic function. He urged people to choose hope as an active decision and to remember that history teaches us that repeating past mistakes leads to intolerance.
His remarks came as he toured the UK, previously speaking in Belfast and set to appear in Manchester next week, and he assured audiences that with deliberate effort, a balance between free speech and responsible regulation is possible.
