Walid Al-Saqaf

Journalism and Media Technology

Associate Professor

Södertörn University

Walid Al-Saqaf is an Associate Professor in Journalism and a Senior Lecturer in Media Technology and Journalism at Södertörn University. His interdisciplinary background encompasses computer engineering, journalism, and media technology. Walid’s research delves into the impact of emerging technologies, such as social media, blockchain, and AI, on journalism. Hailing from Yemen, Walid has lived in diverse cultures, from Turkey to the USA, before making Sweden his home. His commitment to the digital realm is manifested by the fact that he had served as a Board of Trustees Member of the Internet Society for six years and his involvement for many years in the Internet Governance ecosystem via the IGF and ICANN. During the Arab Spring, Walid was actively involved in supporting anti-censorship efforts in the Middle East through Alkasir the tool he built to circumvent web censorship, advocating for a free and open internet. Walid was awarded a TED Fellowship in 2010 and a TED Senior Fellowship in 2012 and is known to support opportunities to promote internet freedom and journalistic integrity in the Middle East and beyond.