About

Jacob Mchangama is a human rights lawyer specialized in civil and political rights including a special emphasis on freedom of expression. Through his work at the independent think tank CEPOS in Copenhagen Jacob has managed to increase the Danish public’s focus on basic freedoms whether in relation to anti-terrorism, freedom of expression and the protection of private property and his work is credited with contributing to the defeat of several bills and influencing the amendment of laws. He has been appointed as an expert witness at parliamentary hearings at the Danish parliament Folketinget. In 2010 Jacob co-founded the Copenhagen based network Fri Debat, for which he acts as spokesperson, committed to the protection of freedom of expression.

Jacob Mchangama is also a lecturer and researcher on human rights and has written several academic articles. He teaches at the University of Copenhagen. He writes for Danish newspaper Berlingske. His essays and op-eds—typically covering human rights and the rule of law—have been published in newspapers on all continents including Canada's Globe and Mail, Israel's The Jerusalem Post, National Review, Egypt’s Daily News, Singapore’s The Strait Times, Norway's Minerva, China’s South China Morning Post, the Australian, the Wall Street Journal Europe as well as all major Danish newspapers. He is a frequent commentator in Danish TV and radio and has also appeared on Swedish and Indian TV as well on the Voice of Russia. Jacob speaks publicly at universities and panel discussions in Denmark, Scandinavia and Europe on human rights often focusing on freedom of expression.

In 2010 Jacob was named the most influential Danish public intellectual under the age of 40 - and the 9th most influential Danish Public intellectual overall - by Danish newspaper Politiken.