“I lived in China for 9 years straight. I saw how my Chinese friends benefited and gained much more freedom to determine the course of their lives, their jobs, their creative works, and their identities over the course of a decade. Much of this increased freedom is thanks to economic engagement by the West.”

American journalist and digital rights advocate, Rebecca MacKinnon has spent decades examining the intersection of technology, media, and governance. She is best known for her work on internet freedom, censorship, and the ethical implications of digital platforms, often bridging academic research with practical policy recommendations.