Olympic Boxer Imane Khelif has sparked concerns over free speech on social media after the controversial sportswoman launched a legal battle against two huge online figures.
Naming X owner Elon Musk alongside JK Rowling in her legal complaint, the Algerian boxer accused them of "acts of aggravated cyber harassment".
Questions had been raised during the games about Khelif's participation as the sportswoman was previously banned by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing a gender eligibility test.
French attorney Nabil Boudi said Khelif is now engaged in a "fight for justice, dignity and honour".
Imane Khelif has sparked free speech concerns after launching a cyberbullying lawsuit against X owner Elon Musk
PA
Discussing the lawsuit on GB News, human rights lawyer David Haigh warned that the case could spark "policing of social media" across the world.
Haigh explained: "If they proceed with this, the Paris prosecutor have the reach jurisdiction to come to other countries. And if that is the case, that then is a very concerning development.
"Because you can have countries around the world basically policing social media in other countries. It could be a very, very significant case both in free speech, the use of social media, but also in gender politics."
Reacting to the claims, host Dawn Neesom questioned if the outcome of the case could provide a "test" for policing social media all over the world, and the powers police can enforce.
Khelif has named Elon Musk and JK Rowling as part of her legal battle
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Haigh agreed, responding: "States like Dubai and Saudi Arabia have been arresting people from foreign countries for social media, that's something we're used to.
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"But are we now going to see France trying to extradite or issuing arrest warrants for JK Rowling? It's a very slippery slope and it could become a very significant case."
Offering his verdict on the case, host Andrew Pierce argued that the legal complaint against Rowling will "fuel her campaign" in speaking out on gender issues on social media.
Andrew told GB News: "The idea this would silence somebody like JK Rowling, who has become almost a core celebrity for this issue of women in sport and safe places for women, I'd have thought this will just fuel her campaign."
Haigh said: "I think a lot of it is for publicity. We've filed criminal complaints against various dictators for human rights abuses in France and Germany - but this case is different because it's not against a dictator, it's not against a country.
David Haigh said the case is 'significant' in the debate on gender politics and free speech
GB News
"If it proceeds, and that's a big if, it could have significant ramifications. Whether or not there has been harassment, you will have a debate on what is and isn't a man or a woman in the court."
When asked by Dawn if Khelif will "have to prove her DNA" in the court if the complaint proceeds, Haigh explained that it could be a possibility, depending on what evidence the court needs.
Haigh told GB News: "That could well happen, because it depends what the prosecutor proceeds with and what they need to see as evidence.
"But if part of whether or not there has been harassment and abuse comes down to whether or not that boxer is a man or a woman, obviously evidence will need to be put forward on both sides of that."
