Investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald, along with Alexis Ohanian, will debate Michael Hayden and Alan Dershowitz in May on the subject of state surveillance.
The semi-annual Munk Debates, Canada's leading public policy forum, announced the May 2 event in a
press release Wednesday, stating that Greenwald and Ohanian, co-founder of social news website reddit, will debate Harvard Law School professor Dershowitz and Hayden, a retired four-star general and former CIA director.
Greenwald, who published information about the U.S. government's secret surveillance programs leaked by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, and Ohanian will argue against the motion that state surveillance is a legitimate defense "of our freedoms," while Dershowitz and Hayden will argue for it.
Greenwald tweeted
Wednesday: "Those in Toronto: along with @alexisohanian, I'll be debating Michael Hayden & Alan Dershowitz on surveillance: 5/2."
The debate will take place before an audience of 3,000 at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall. The format consists of short opening statements, followed by a moderated panel discussion and short closing statements. The audience votes on the resolution being debated, and the winning side is announced afterward.
The debates are funded by the Aurea Foundation, a Canadian nonprofit established in 2006 by philanthropists Peter and Melanie Munk.
They are broadcast on radio and TV throughout Canada and the United States, and the transcript of each debate is later published as a book.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.