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The Future of Free Speech

@futurefreespeech.org
556 followers 337 following 1.4K posts

Reaffirming free expression as the bedrock of free and thriving societies through actionable research, empowering tools, and principled advocacy. We are an independent, non-partisan think tank located at Vanderbilt University. futurefreespeech.org

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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 1h
Should you have to hand over your personal information to go online? Tech journalist @taylorlorenz.bsky.social and Iain Corby of the Age Verification Providers Association go head-to-head on one of the most contested questions of the digital age.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 22h
🗓️ Only 3 days to go until the 2026 Global Free Speech Summit! Get ready for two jam-packed days of debate and dialogue on the most pressing challenges shaping free expression today.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 29/09/2026
Does counterspeech work? The answer depends on what it's trying to achieve. Senior Research Fellow @nataliealkiviadou.bsky.social reviews the evidence on answering hate speech with more speech: what works, for whom, and in which contexts.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 26/09/2026
Frederick Douglass was a staunch defender of wartime dissent, press freedom, and a culture of openness. In an ongoing series of essays, @mchangama.bsky.social dives into Douglass’ free speech philosophy and the lessons that are still applicable today.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 25/09/2026
Our schedule for this year’s Global Free Speech Summit is now LIVE! 📣 Don’t miss out on speakers, events, or conversations happening next week on Oct. 2 & 3.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 22/09/2026
Governments, AI, and even activists are narrowing speech. @mchangama.bsky.social and UCL’s Jeffrey Howard will discuss what’s left of it— and how we can rebuild diversity of thought and expression.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 19/09/2026
Free speech's fiercest defenders often become censors once in power. Executive Director @mchangama.bsky.social joined the @letraslibres.com podcast to discuss how this cycle plays out across history. ⬇️
letraslibres.com
El salón de Gascón: Las paradojas de la libertad de expresión, con Jacob Mchangama | Letras Libres
En esta entrega de #ElSalónDeGascón, Jacob Mchangama y Daniel Gascón repasan la historia de la libertad de expresión, sus paradojas, y los retos en la época de las redes sociales y la inteligencia…
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 18/09/2026
🚨 A recent post from President Trump raises serious questions about freedom of speech and press freedom in the U.S. ⬇️
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 18/09/2026
The world is questioning its commitment to freedom of expression. At the #FreeSpeechSummit2026, @jkosseff.bsky.social and @mchangama.bsky.social will discuss their new book and why free speech heals— not harms— democracies.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 18/09/2026
Disinformation, extremism, and hate are serious problems in AI. But how can we address these concerns without restricting lawful speech? At the Digital Hate Review, @nataliealkiviadou.bsky.social argues an international human rights law can help models draw boundaries that protect speech.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 18/09/2026
When governments and companies put guardrails on AI, how does it shape the questions we’re allowed to ask, the information we can access, and our right to free speech? Join @jordicalbad.bsky.social, Senior Research Fellow at FoFS, for a candid conversation on these questions at @auwcl.bsky.social.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 17/09/2026
Section 230 protects small platforms from facing costly trials over user content. But @jkosseff.bsky.social points out that Meta’s $17.1B settlement risks the shield they depend on.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 17/09/2026
Censorship isn’t limited to a country’s borders. They create a global blueprint for silence. At the #FreeSpeechSummit2026, Ge Chen will discuss how China exports its censorship mechanisms.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 16/09/2026
The Senate Commerce Committee marks up the JAWBONE Act today. Our Senior Fellow @jkosseff.bsky.social breaks down what's in the bill and why it matters.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 16/09/2026
What questions can your chatbot not answer? Where is AI censorship the greatest threat? At the #FreeSpeechSummit2026, Isabelle Anzabi will present findings on freedom of speech in global AI policies and chatbots.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 15/09/2026
Disinformation in AI presents serious risks. But giving authorities the power to decide what chatbots can say is an even bigger risk. At the #FreeSpeechSummit2026, @dwillner.bsky.social will discuss how open-source content moderation offers a promising solution.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 14/09/2026
Autocrats are using “foreign agent” and “anti-extremist” laws to suppress dissent and avoid accountability. In a National Endowment for Democracy essay, @mchangama.bsky.social examines how repressive governments target free speech—and why protecting it is essential to progress.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 01/09/2026
Many are hailing Meta’s $17.1B settlement as a victory for online child safety. But at @lawfaremedia.org, @jkosseff.bsky.social argues the celebration overlooks serious First Amendment concerns.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 24/08/2026
Can free speech survive in the AI era? @jordicalbad.bsky.social will discuss our research on global AI policies and protections for free expression at the #FreeSpeechSummit2026.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 21/08/2026
🇺🇸 America cemented free speech as the bedrock of democracy 250 years ago. Now, efforts to restrict speech in the media, campuses, and online show America’s commitment is wavering.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 20/08/2026
Antisemitism is rising, but does silencing it reduce hate — or worsen it? Nadine Strossen will join experts to discuss how we can address rising hatred and tension at the #FreeSpeechSummit2026.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 19/08/2026
Rikki Schlott left her university after sensing its free speech culture was dead. Now, she’ll moderate a discussion of the challenges and tensions shaping academic freedom at the #FreeSpeechSummit2026.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 18/08/2026
Four states are suing Meta in a high-stakes child-safety trial, which began today in federal court in Oakland. In @politico.com, @ashkhen.bsky.social argues the judge's decision could have far-reaching consequences for online speech.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 10/08/2026
Jimmy Wales helped build one of the most ambitious experiments in open access to knowledge in human history. But can the open internet survive growing government control, censorship, and fragmentation?
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 10/08/2026
Speech restrictions often backfire— and silence the very communities they aim to protect. At the #FreeSpeechSummit2026, Mina Dennert will join @nataliealkiviadou.bsky.social to show how we can combat hate speech and disinformation with empowering tools instead.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 07/08/2026
The freedom of academic institutions is under attack. At our #FreeSpeechSummit2026, Nigel Biggar will dive into the challenges shaping campuses across the world and how we can move forward.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 05/08/2026
How can we use speech as a tool for progress and liberty? Toby Young will discuss actionable strategies for creating a free speech movement at the #FreeSpeechSummit2026.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 05/08/2026
Journalism is not a crime, but across Pakistan, the government is intimidating and imprisoning critical voices. The Future of Free Speech signed on to a joint appeal to government leaders, demanding an end to the abuse of cybercrime laws to silence journalists and lawyers.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 05/08/2026
Has the European Court of Human Rights gone too far in its hate speech jurisprudence? In her new paper in the Journal of Free Speech Law, @nataliealkiviadou.bsky.social critically examines whether recent case law risks weakening free speech protections.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 04/08/2026
🇪🇺 An EU Commission proposal seeks to criminalize hate speech across the entire bloc. At the Journal of Free Speech Law, @nataliealkiviadou.bsky.social and @mchangama.bsky.social argue these efforts won't reduce hate— and instead risk burying legal dissent and activism.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 04/08/2026
A new MN law could penalize platforms that allow users to generate AI images of an individual's "intimate parts." At the Bedrock Principle, @jkosseff.bsky.social argues the law raises serious First Amendment concerns— and could push AI image generation out of the state.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 04/08/2026
Russia Today is prohibited from broadcasting in the EU. But can people who republish their content be subject to the same restrictions? @nataliealkiviadou.bsky.social argues a recent CJEU judgment opens the door for national courts to hold individuals who share such information criminally liable.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 03/08/2026
Lilian Tintori’s husband was sent to prison for organizing non-violent street protests calling for freedom in Venezuela. She led a campaign to free him. Now, the pair will discuss the power of free speech at our #FreeSpeechSummit2026— and what’s at stake if we lose it.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 03/08/2026
The FCC faces more than 153,000 comments urging it to drop its call for early license renewals for ABC stations. At @washingtonexaminer.bsky.social, @ashkhen.bsky.social and @aclu.org's Jenna Leventoff argue the First Amendment protects against this exact kind of regulatory pressure.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 02/08/2026
🇨🇾 The EU Parliament adopted a resolution to document Cypriot women’s testimonies of sexual violence during the 1974 Turkish invasion. On The Greek Current podcast, @nataliealkiviadou.bsky.social argues that survivors need a social commitment to free speech to safely share their stories.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 31/07/2026
Amnesty International removed a report after organizations it labeled as aiming to "restrict human rights" pushed back. Now, J.K. Rowling has offered to fund libel lawsuits against Amnesty.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 31/07/2026
We take hate speech and disinformation seriously. But censorship isn’t the answer. At our #FreeSpeechSummit2026, @nataliealkiviadou.bsky.social will share how you can combat harmful speech with empowering tools.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 30/07/2026
🚨 We have submitted a comment to the FTC warning its proposed policy statement on "suppression of accuracy in AI systems" would violate the First Amendment. ⬇️⬇️
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 29/07/2026
🚨 The Future of Free Speech, @aclu.org, @knightcolumbia.org, and @ncacensorship.bsky.social have submitted comments to the FCC urging it to drop its call for Disney's ABC Stations to renew their broadcast licenses early ⬇️ ⬇️
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 27/07/2026
🚨 Tomorrow, @mchangama.bsky.social will join the MIT Free Speech Alliance to discuss how we can address modern challenges to freedom of expression in the US and globally.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 20/07/2026
🚨The Trump administration has announced new rules that cut the duration of visas for foreign journalists. Executive Director @mchangama.bsky.social has issued the following statement in response ⬇️ ⬇️
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 16/07/2026
How can social media regulations backfire? Can free speech survive without legal safeguards? @mchangama.bsky.social answers these questions with Claudia Koestler on the @ohot.bsky.social Podcast.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 06/07/2026
Are our phones listening to us? Are algorithm regulations a government power grab? Should AI companies disclose data collection? @ashkhen.bsky.social answers the questions at the heart of conversations about AI, free speech, and privacy on Business Untitled
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 03/07/2026
The price of speaking freely is rising. Regulatory pressure, funding freezes, and deportation threats @ashkhen.bsky.social calls a "First Amendment tax"—raising the cost of free expression through fear of costly legal and political battles.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 03/07/2026
Can Milei claim to champion liberty while using state power to intimidate its critics? @thaumatropo.bsky.social and @nicolaszara.bsky.social examine how Argentina's Milei government pairs anti-state rhetoric with state action against journalists.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 24/06/2026
Thousands of Americans have submitted comments to the FCC over its inquiry into whether ‘The View’ should be exempt from the equal time rule. @ashkhen.bsky.social says that the FCC’s threats won’t just affect a single program. It could chill political speech across the airwaves.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 22/06/2026
Can the potential consequences of AI models’ use justify restrictions on them today? The Trump administration told Anthropic to suspend foreign nationals’ access to certain models due to national security concerns. Anthropic announced it would “abruptly disable” the models for all users.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 18/06/2026
We have joined @aclu.org, @ncacensorship.bsky.social, and @cdt.org in comments to the FCC, urging the agency to reaffirm that "The View" qualifies as a bona fide news interview program under federal law and remains exempt from broadcasters' equal opportunities requirements.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 17/06/2026
If a news source always tells you exactly what you want to hear, that's probably a problem. At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, William B. Irvine warned about confirmation bias: our tendency to seek out information that reinforces what we already believe.
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The Future of Free Speech @futurefreespeech.org · 17/06/2026
The UK govt claims overwhelming support for its under-16 social media ban. But its public consultation suffers from a self-selection bias and is not representative. Unfortunately, that's not the only glaring flaw in its plan — and it threatens free speech for everyone.
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