Obama Tells Prince Harry 'Free Speech' Is the Best Social Media Policy

While tech heavyweights like Facebook and Twitter grapple with the spread of fake news and how to handle inflammatory, often odious comments on its platforms, former U.S. President Barack Obama has a straightforward answer for social media companies handling these issues: education, rather than regulation, is the way to go.

In a wide-ranging BBC interview in which he was interviewed by Prince Harry of Wales, touched on topics from “Suits” versus “The Good Wife” to free speech — the 44th commander-in-chief said he leans towards a laissez-faire approach on controlling internet comments.

Harry: On social media, educate or regulate?

Also Read: Here's Why NFL Nixed Season's Final 'Sunday Night Football' Game on NBC

Obama: I’m big on education, because the notion that we are going to be able to corral, that we are going to be able to contain, what’s said and what’s not on the Internet seems unachievable — and contrary to the values of an open society that the United States and Great Britain and most of the advanced world adheres to. I don’t want to live in a world in which the state is making a decision about who says what.

Obama doubled-down on his commitment to free speech elsewhere in the interview, saying “as a former constitutional lawyer, I am pretty firm about the merits of free speech.”

He added: “The question, I think, really has to do with how do we harness this technology in a way that allows a multiplicity of voices, allows a diversity of views, but doesn’t lead to a balkanization of our society but rather continues to promote ways of finding common ground.”

Also Read: Mike Huckabee Faces Darkest Hour After Comparing Trump to Churchill: 'What a Clown'

The prince-president interview took place back in September, before Twitter had updated its rules, leading to the banning of several alt-right accounts in December. Facebook has also struggled with how to best tackle the spread of disinformation on the social network; the company announced last week it was scrapping its “disputed” tag for iffy stories because it ended up making users more inclined to share it.

To listen to the full 39-minute interview, check it out here.

10 Times Tomi Lahren Has Courted Outrage: From Black Lives Matter to President Obama (Photos)

Forthcoming Fox News contributor Tomi Lahren doesn't keep her opinions to herself -- even when her job is on the line. Scroll through to look back at times when Lahren has inflamed both the left and the right.

Also Read: Fox News Signs Tomi Lahren as a Contributor
Fox News
Beyonce's Super Bowl Performance

Lahren caught plenty of flak when she criticized Beyonce's performance at Super Bowl 50. "Even the Super Bowl halftime show has become a way to politicize and advance the notion that black lives matter more," Lahren said.
CBS
Black Lives Matter

Nearly 60,000 people signed a petition calling for Lahren to be fired after she compared Black Lives Matter to the KKK in a since-deleted tweet.
Getty Images
Jesse Williams

Lahren took serious issue with Jesse Williams' BET Awards acceptance speech, in which he spoke of police brutality toward black Americans. "I saw a lot of talent on that stage, but at the same time a whole lot of victimhood," she said.
Getty Images
Dallas Shooting

Lahren blamed President Obama for the Dallas shooting that left five police officers dead and nine others injured. "Eight years later and we are more divided than ever," she said.
Getty Images
Donald Trump Protesters

After millions took to the street to protest the election of Donald Trump, Lahren said, "A bunch of sore losers occupying a space is called a tantrum."
Getty Images
Trevor Noah Appearance

The two sparred over protests to Donald Trump’s presidential election victory and the Black Lives Matter movement. It probably didn’t help that Lahren previously compared the latter to the KKK. Lahren claimed she doesn’t “see color,” which drew a laughing-gasp from the Comedy Central crowd.

Here's a closer look at Lahren's debate with Noah.
Comedy Central
Suspended from "The Blaze"

Lahren was fired from her job at Glenn Beck's "The Blaze" in April after she revealed in an appearance on "The View" that she is pro-choice when it comes to abortion. She then sued her former boss for wrongful termination.
Fox
Interview with Jazz Jennings on Transgender Rights

In August, Lahren sat down with the star of TLC's "I am Jazz" to discuss transgender rights and bathroom bills. She asked Jennings if, when she was in second grade using the girls' restroom, others at school thought she was a "pervert."
Fox News/TLC
Charlottesville response

After violent white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia in August, Lahren posted a video on Facebook denouncing liberals who she says blame all Trump supporters for the deadly chaos. "It’s this phony identity politics that lost you the election. The average Trump supporter is not a Nazi or white supremacist," she said.
Tomi Lahren/Facebook
Glenn Beck Countersues

Later in August, Lahren was counter-sued by Glenn Beck and The Blaze. The countersuit paints Lahren as “inappropriate and unprofessional,” as well as a “divisive” person who “created conflicts with other media personalities” at the organization.

Also Read: JK Rowling Trashes Tomi Lahren Over Trump-Obama Claim
TheBlaze

1 of 11

Debate with Trevor Noah is not first time The Blaze anchor has gotten into hot water

Forthcoming Fox News contributor Tomi Lahren doesn't keep her opinions to herself -- even when her job is on the line. Scroll through to look back at times when Lahren has inflamed both the left and the right.

Also Read: Fox News Signs Tomi Lahren as a Contributor

View In Gallery

10 Times Tomi Lahren Has Courted Outrage: From Black Lives Matter to President Obama (Photos)

7DAYFREETRIAL

7
DAY
FREE
TRIAL