Eliza Bechtold

Eliza Bechtold is a Lecturer in the School of Law at the University of Aberdeen and holds additional roles as Programme Manager and Research Fellow at the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, University of Oxford. She is affiliated with Mansfield College (Oxford) and the Oxford Pro Bono Publico initiative.

Her research focuses on freedom of expression, particularly in digital contexts, and examines how free speech frameworks intersect with democratic norms. She has extensive experience in litigation and advocacy, previously serving as Legal Director of the ACLU of New Mexico, where she addressed LGBTQ+, immigrants', and reproductive rights issues.

Dr. Bechtold’s work critically analyzes media’s role in democracy, including the impact of Fox News and Republican Party dynamics on First Amendment principles. Her publications span Journal of Media Law, Edinburgh Law Review, and prominent blogs like The Conversation and UKCLA Blog, addressing topics such as online harms regulation, hate crime legislation, and constitutional challenges in crises like the pandemic.

Her interdisciplinary approach bridges legal theory, media ethics, and political science, emphasizing the societal implications of free speech in modern democracies.