“We are exceptionally pleased to welcome two new, highly qualified board members to Fritt Ord. We believe they will strengthen the Board at a time when freedom of expression faces greater challenges than it has for a very long time. We need to take advantage of the resources available to us to promote the courageous use of free speech in the best possible way”, states Bård Vegar Solhjell, chair of the Fritt Ord Board.

About Eirin Larsen<
“Eirin Larsen’s work centred on the confluence of technology and journalism. She has specialised expertise in how social media can promote, as well as challenge, freedom of expression and public discourse”, observes Bård Vegar Solhjell.
“Algorithms on Facebook managed to change the world, and we failed to see it coming, so we were remiss in arriving at prudent decisions. We need to correct that now. We are currently experiencing a new technological revolution based on artificial intelligence. This means choosing between more knowledge and better dialogue, or more fragmented, less democratic access to information,” states Eirin Larsen.
Larsen is a media and technology strategist with comprehensive experience from the Norwegian media industry and public administration. She currently works with technology development at the Telenor Group. She has previously worked as a journalist and head of social media at DN, Adresseavisen and NRK, and she has served as a senior advisor at the Office of the Prime Minister. Larsen has a degree in journalism as well as a master’s degree in digitisation and innovation.

About Hadia Tajik
“Hadia Tajik was one of Norway’s most talented politicians, passionately committed to freedom of expression, human rights and issues related to the rule of law. She has long experience of taking part in difficult debates revolving around freedom of expression”, recounts Bård Vegar Solhjell.
“Freedom of expression is being subjected to greater pressures than for a long time, both by extreme factions and by Big Tech’s attempts to dictate the parameters for discussions. It will be especially meaningful to contribute to the vital work that the Fritt Ord Foundation does to address the times we live in”, remarks Hadia Tajik.
Tajik will be starting a new job with the Haavind Law Firm in August, after nearly 20 years serving in a variety of national offices as a Labour Party politician. Tajik has been a cabinet minister under two different administrations. She is a journalist and lawyer with a master’s degree in human rights. These days, she is working in corporate law, including the offshore and manufacturing sectors.