DW's Global Media Forum opens in Bonn

The Council of Europe chief discussed "deep changes" throughout society relating to what he sees as a shift away from traditional avenues of political participation toward digital forms of grassroots organization and discussion.

Jagland also talked about the NSA surveillance scandal in Germany, referencing German parliamentarians who expressed shock that the US would spy on its friends. Enthusiastic applause came when Jagland said the central question should not be whether surveillance is conducted on friends or enemies, but whether it is carried out in a way that's transparently subject to the rule of law.

Thorbjorn Jagland called data protection a human rights challenge

The power of laughter

Following the keynote address, Egyptian TV comedian Bassem Youssef was introduced as a special guest with a film that charted his show's rise from a living room imitation of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to a viral YouTube phenomenon and, finally, to a major network broadcast. DW had secured rebroadcasting rights for the satirical program - titled "Al-Bernameg" - in early 2014 before the show's cancellation in June due to Egyptian political pressure.

Youssef, a heart surgeon by trade, addressed the audience in Bonn with a talk in which he described how Egyptian and other governments use fear as a weapon. The laughter brought on by satire, he said, dispels the atmosphere of apprehension such regimes seek to cultivate. That, he argued, was why the show was cancelled.

Asked about the future of Al-Bernameg, the 40-year-old satirist said it would be unrealistic to try and continue it given the current circumstances in Egypt. Youssef added that his team will work on other projects before attempting a return to the original format, but he absolutely ruled out doing the broadcast from outside Egypt.

"If you take this show outside of the heart of Cairo, you lose credibility in a second," he said.

Bassem Youssef received a warm welcome from the audience in Bonn

International presence

Youssef is one of many prominent people, including German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, journalist Jeff Jarvis, and Snowden confidante Sarah Harrison, who are taking part in the conference organized by Deutsche Welle and running through July 2 in Bonn.

The event, attended by more than 2,000 participants from around the globe, has regularly drawn high-profile politicians, including heads of state, and well-known public intellectuals like Noam Chomsky and philosopher Thomas Pogge.