Meghan Markle Speaks Out on Online Safety: ‘You Personally or Someone You Know Is Victim to What’s Happening’

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the Responsible Digital Future forum at EAN University in Bogota, Colombia on August 15, 2024.Photo:Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty

Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty

Meghan MarkleandPrince Harryhighlighted a key theme of theirvisit to Colombiaas they came to the end of their first day in the country.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex couple took part in a summit on a Responsible Digital Future at which they joined a panel discussion, The Path Towards a Responsible Digital Future, at a leading univeristy in Bogotá, the country’s capital.

Appearing on a panel alongside Colombia’s Vice President Francia Márquez and co-founder and CEO of Rappler and Nobel Peace Laureate Maria Ressa, the couple spoke about the need to prioritize humanity and connection over an unsafe digital landscape.

“With the Archewell Foundation, me and my wife believe that information integrity is a fundamental right,” Prince Harry, 39, said.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the ‘Responsible Digital Future’ forum at EAN University in Bogota, Colombia on August 15, 2024.Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty

Meghan, 43, added, “We should model how we want our kids to be raised and for the world in which we raise them. It doesn’t matter where you live. It doesn’t matter who you are. Either you personally or someone you know is a victim to what’s happening online. And that’s something we can actively work on every day to remedy.”

A BBC correspondent at the eventreported on X (formerly Twitter) thatHarry added, “For as long as people are allowed to spread lies, abuse, then social cohesion as we know it has completely broken down… now what happens online within a matter of minutes transfers to the streets.”

During the discussion, Vice President Márquez shared how society needs to strike a better balance with social media usage and not misuse tools that can affect mental health. She also talked about trying to create a less hostile media landscape.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the ‘Responsible Digital Future’ forum at EAN University in Bogota, Colombia on August 15, 2024.Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty

And the panel discussion came ahead of the first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence Against Children, taking place in Colombia this November.

Earlier in the afternoon of Aug. 15, Meghan and Vice President Márquez joined in the dancing at the end of a cultural event which showcased the artistry of Bogotá at the Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata Olivella. Harry and Meghan greeted all of the performers, dancers, actors, and crew who entertained them during the day’s performances.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are seen at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogata, Colombia on Aug. 15.Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty

Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty

Each artistic showcase was designed to capture the past, present, and future of Colombian culture and how CNA is working to build a more inclusive creative community within Bogotá and beyond.

CNA’s director Xiomara Suescún described their mission as “a house for Colombia and the world.”

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Vice President Francia Marquez and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the cultural event on Aug. 15, 2024.courtesy of the Vice President’s Office

courtesy of the Vice President’s Office

During the 30-minute visit, Márquez told the couple that she shared their same ideals and goals for championing a safer digital future and mental health landscape.

source: people.com