23 Oct 2025 Trust Conference 2025 – Upholding democratic freedoms in an autocratic age

Amid escalating global clampdowns on civic space and ruthless legal attacks on journalists and the media, Trust Conference 2025 asked a pressing question: Is it too late to save democracy, which stands on free and independent media that hold the powerful to account and enable civil society to make informed decisions?

Held in London on October 21–22, this year’s edition of the annual conference organized by Thomson Reuters Foundation brought together leading experts, innovators, and activists to address global challenges at the intersection of media freedom, technology, law, and responsible business practices took place.

Over two days, the participants tackled critical issues threatening democracy and undermining global progress, explored innovative solutions, and created cross-sector connections to enable the exchange of ideas and expertise.

Thomson Reuters CEO Antonio Zappulla opened the conversation by setting out the three key drivers behind the fundamental reset currently reshaping the global order:

• The changing role of the United States in world affairs is a ubiquitous presence across all sectors and industries.
• The rapid acceleration of new technologies is catalysing democratic progress, yet also supercharging malign power.
• The continued weaponisation of the law against journalists, activists, and legal professionals is not only increasing in prevalence, but the tactics are rapidly evolving.

Jelani Cobb (Columbia Journalism School), Nabiha Syed (Mozilla Foundation), David Runciman (Past Present Future podcast), and Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia) discussed the global suppression, weaponisation, and manipulation of freedom of expression and the rule of law globally. How to rebuild democratic resilience in the face of disinformation, attacks on legal systems and civil society, and the erosion of checks and balances fuelling distrust?

Natalia Antelava (Coda Story) and Christopher Wylie (data whistleblower and author) challenged unthinking acceptance of Silicon Valley’s take on artificial intelligence. Trapped by a freak flood during Dubai’s “Crypto Week,” Christopher Wylie stumbled into an exclusive gathering of tech elites talking about using technology to live forever, connecting humans up to a hive mind, and building superintelligence unchecked by regulatory power. Do the media and people in general accept Big Tech’s dystopian beliefs?

“Truth Under Threat: Journalism vs. Foreign Agent Laws” was the focus of a panel discussion with Alsu Kurmasheva (Press Freedom Advocate, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir Service), imprisoned under Putin; Can Yeginsu (High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom); and Nick Slater (Thomson Reuters Foundation).

Left: Panelists for the session “Democracy Under Siege: Upholding Freedom in an Autocratic Age.” Right: Antonio Zappulla, CEO of Thomson Reuters Foundation, introduces the themes of the conference. (WACC/Philip Lee)

“Foreign agent” laws are broadly understood as a collection of state-led legal penalties, stigmatisation efforts, and burdensome regulations designed to restrict the work of NGOs and independent media that receive foreign funding. They have been spreading around the world, becoming a favoured tool of authoritarian regimes to silence dissent and to control the narrative.

In response, Thomson Reuters Foundation is scaling up its operations. Through its new Legal Service for Independent Media, it is connecting newsrooms around the world with pro bono legal advice to proactively minimise their exposure through robust compliance strategies, risk assessments, and operational structuring.

Further, Trust Conference 2025:

• examined how AI is transforming our justice systems and how we can maintain the delicate balance between technological innovation and protecting fundamental rights in our courts;
• explored the hidden risks in AI supply chains and heard from industry leaders who will share actionable strategies for protecting labour rights while responsibly integrating AI;
• heard how philanthropy is stepping up to safeguard democratic values and rights amidst shrinking government aid.

Trust Conference is a vital, informative, and vitally important gathering that emphasises the crucial role of independent journalism and media freedom in promoting fairer and more just societies. WACC was privileged to take part.

WACC was represented at Trust Conference 2025 by general secretary Philip Lee.

Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, imprisoned for over nine months by the Russian authorities, speaks at the session “Truth Under Threat: Journalism vs. Foreign Agent Laws” during Trust Conference 2025. Photo: WACC/Philip Lee