The Future of Free Speech
@futurefreespeech.org
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. https://futurefreespeech.org
What if expressing an unpopular opinion could get your assets frozen—or stop you from entering or transiting a country?
Europe has recently added to its fast-growing list of individuals sanctioned for speech deemed a threat to national security.
Europe has recently added to its fast-growing list of individuals sanctioned for speech deemed a threat to national security.
January 13, 2026 at 7:58 PM
What if expressing an unpopular opinion could get your assets frozen—or stop you from entering or transiting a country?
Europe has recently added to its fast-growing list of individuals sanctioned for speech deemed a threat to national security.
Europe has recently added to its fast-growing list of individuals sanctioned for speech deemed a threat to national security.
On Dec. 1, 2025, we partnered with Örebro University to convene leading academics, regulators, companies, and civil society experts to confront this challenge in an in-depth roundtable examining AI’s impact on freedom of expression.
January 12, 2026 at 9:55 PM
On Dec. 1, 2025, we partnered with Örebro University to convene leading academics, regulators, companies, and civil society experts to confront this challenge in an in-depth roundtable examining AI’s impact on freedom of expression.
Does freedom of expression protect art that offends? Or is it a fragile principle that disappears the moment enough people (and politicians) are upset?
January 12, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Does freedom of expression protect art that offends? Or is it a fragile principle that disappears the moment enough people (and politicians) are upset?
Taiwan has the freest press and most open Internet environments in the world. But this doesn’t leave them more vulnerable to polarization and disinformation.
January 12, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Taiwan has the freest press and most open Internet environments in the world. But this doesn’t leave them more vulnerable to polarization and disinformation.
In Australia, what began as a moment of national mourning for the Bondi Beach attack has rapidly turned into one of the most sweeping expansions of hate speech laws and protest restriction powers in the country’s history.
But criminalizing hate speech won't stop antisemitism.
But criminalizing hate speech won't stop antisemitism.
January 12, 2026 at 4:53 PM
In Australia, what began as a moment of national mourning for the Bondi Beach attack has rapidly turned into one of the most sweeping expansions of hate speech laws and protest restriction powers in the country’s history.
But criminalizing hate speech won't stop antisemitism.
But criminalizing hate speech won't stop antisemitism.
📅 Mark your calendars for the third annual Global Free Speech Summit!
October 2 & 3, 2026.
More details to come. Registrations will open soon.
#FreeSpeechSummit2026
October 2 & 3, 2026.
More details to come. Registrations will open soon.
#FreeSpeechSummit2026
January 12, 2026 at 4:03 PM
📅 Mark your calendars for the third annual Global Free Speech Summit!
October 2 & 3, 2026.
More details to come. Registrations will open soon.
#FreeSpeechSummit2026
October 2 & 3, 2026.
More details to come. Registrations will open soon.
#FreeSpeechSummit2026
The most commonly proposed solutions to social media misinformation and polarization are often a cure worse than the disease.
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, @glenweyl.bsky.social discusses a better way to address these issues.
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, @glenweyl.bsky.social discusses a better way to address these issues.
January 12, 2026 at 3:23 PM
The most commonly proposed solutions to social media misinformation and polarization are often a cure worse than the disease.
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, @glenweyl.bsky.social discusses a better way to address these issues.
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, @glenweyl.bsky.social discusses a better way to address these issues.
You can't protect free speech without knowing what it's up against.
This week's Free Flow newsletter has all the latest investigations, laws, and challenges risking the power to dissent, advocate, and hold accountable.
This week's Free Flow newsletter has all the latest investigations, laws, and challenges risking the power to dissent, advocate, and hold accountable.
January 9, 2026 at 7:19 PM
You can't protect free speech without knowing what it's up against.
This week's Free Flow newsletter has all the latest investigations, laws, and challenges risking the power to dissent, advocate, and hold accountable.
This week's Free Flow newsletter has all the latest investigations, laws, and challenges risking the power to dissent, advocate, and hold accountable.
Do community notes work?
They are a step in the right direction — away from top-down moderation — but @glenweyl.bsky.social explains how they can be improved at #FreeSpeechSummit2025.
🔗 Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIELV-14III
They are a step in the right direction — away from top-down moderation — but @glenweyl.bsky.social explains how they can be improved at #FreeSpeechSummit2025.
🔗 Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIELV-14III
January 9, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Do community notes work?
They are a step in the right direction — away from top-down moderation — but @glenweyl.bsky.social explains how they can be improved at #FreeSpeechSummit2025.
🔗 Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIELV-14III
They are a step in the right direction — away from top-down moderation — but @glenweyl.bsky.social explains how they can be improved at #FreeSpeechSummit2025.
🔗 Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIELV-14III
What do reactions to Charlie Kirk and George Floyd have in common?
At the #FreeSpeechSummit2025, participants discussed how death has been used across the aisle to shape political narratives and drive change.
🔗 Watch the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROyL9_SQBsE
At the #FreeSpeechSummit2025, participants discussed how death has been used across the aisle to shape political narratives and drive change.
🔗 Watch the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROyL9_SQBsE
January 8, 2026 at 4:04 PM
What do reactions to Charlie Kirk and George Floyd have in common?
At the #FreeSpeechSummit2025, participants discussed how death has been used across the aisle to shape political narratives and drive change.
🔗 Watch the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROyL9_SQBsE
At the #FreeSpeechSummit2025, participants discussed how death has been used across the aisle to shape political narratives and drive change.
🔗 Watch the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROyL9_SQBsE
Is Charlie Kirk the Right’s George Floyd?
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, Michael Moynihan tells Peter Boghossian that any form of political martyrdom is dangerous.
🔗 Find out what else emerged in a guided conversation between experts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROyL9_SQBsE
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, Michael Moynihan tells Peter Boghossian that any form of political martyrdom is dangerous.
🔗 Find out what else emerged in a guided conversation between experts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROyL9_SQBsE
January 7, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Is Charlie Kirk the Right’s George Floyd?
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, Michael Moynihan tells Peter Boghossian that any form of political martyrdom is dangerous.
🔗 Find out what else emerged in a guided conversation between experts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROyL9_SQBsE
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, Michael Moynihan tells Peter Boghossian that any form of political martyrdom is dangerous.
🔗 Find out what else emerged in a guided conversation between experts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROyL9_SQBsE
Is social punishment worse than being fired by the government for your speech? Are both forms of “cancelling”?
Peter Boghossian talked with experts at our #FreeSpeechSummit2025 about the threats to free expression in America.
Peter Boghossian talked with experts at our #FreeSpeechSummit2025 about the threats to free expression in America.
January 7, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Is social punishment worse than being fired by the government for your speech? Are both forms of “cancelling”?
Peter Boghossian talked with experts at our #FreeSpeechSummit2025 about the threats to free expression in America.
Peter Boghossian talked with experts at our #FreeSpeechSummit2025 about the threats to free expression in America.
Baruch Spinoza bravely defended free speech as a condition for peace and progress.
In Part II of his critique, @mchangama.bsky.social argues Fara Dabhoiwala's narrative obscures that history— and silences the people who paid a heavy price to advocate for the freedom he seems to take for granted.
In Part II of his critique, @mchangama.bsky.social argues Fara Dabhoiwala's narrative obscures that history— and silences the people who paid a heavy price to advocate for the freedom he seems to take for granted.
January 6, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Baruch Spinoza bravely defended free speech as a condition for peace and progress.
In Part II of his critique, @mchangama.bsky.social argues Fara Dabhoiwala's narrative obscures that history— and silences the people who paid a heavy price to advocate for the freedom he seems to take for granted.
In Part II of his critique, @mchangama.bsky.social argues Fara Dabhoiwala's narrative obscures that history— and silences the people who paid a heavy price to advocate for the freedom he seems to take for granted.
Free speech advocates had a busy 2025, to say the least. But more battles are ahead.
@ashkhen.bsky.social spoke with the Tallahassee Democrat about key First Amendment fights to expect in 2026— from proposed algorithm regulations to the speech rights of non-citizen students.
@ashkhen.bsky.social spoke with the Tallahassee Democrat about key First Amendment fights to expect in 2026— from proposed algorithm regulations to the speech rights of non-citizen students.
January 5, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Free speech advocates had a busy 2025, to say the least. But more battles are ahead.
@ashkhen.bsky.social spoke with the Tallahassee Democrat about key First Amendment fights to expect in 2026— from proposed algorithm regulations to the speech rights of non-citizen students.
@ashkhen.bsky.social spoke with the Tallahassee Democrat about key First Amendment fights to expect in 2026— from proposed algorithm regulations to the speech rights of non-citizen students.
The AI race isn’t just about building powerful models—it’s about who sets the rules that govern them.
At @lawfaremedia.org, @jordicalbad.bsky.social and @mchangama.bsky.social warn that China is pushing to shape global AI governance as democracies' commitments to free speech in AI are weakening.
At @lawfaremedia.org, @jordicalbad.bsky.social and @mchangama.bsky.social warn that China is pushing to shape global AI governance as democracies' commitments to free speech in AI are weakening.
January 2, 2026 at 9:17 PM
The AI race isn’t just about building powerful models—it’s about who sets the rules that govern them.
At @lawfaremedia.org, @jordicalbad.bsky.social and @mchangama.bsky.social warn that China is pushing to shape global AI governance as democracies' commitments to free speech in AI are weakening.
At @lawfaremedia.org, @jordicalbad.bsky.social and @mchangama.bsky.social warn that China is pushing to shape global AI governance as democracies' commitments to free speech in AI are weakening.
The First Amendment protects AI chatbots against overt government censorship— but what if you could see the U.S. government’s requests to filter or modify outputs? Would AI still be a reliable tool for discourse and debate?
January 2, 2026 at 7:28 PM
The First Amendment protects AI chatbots against overt government censorship— but what if you could see the U.S. government’s requests to filter or modify outputs? Would AI still be a reliable tool for discourse and debate?
Accuracy and truth in AI chatbots matter. But would you rather challenge a chatbot’s mistakes, or accept one where governments decide which truths can be shared?
At The Ripon Forum, our research shows governments are already making that choice.
At The Ripon Forum, our research shows governments are already making that choice.
December 23, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Accuracy and truth in AI chatbots matter. But would you rather challenge a chatbot’s mistakes, or accept one where governments decide which truths can be shared?
At The Ripon Forum, our research shows governments are already making that choice.
At The Ripon Forum, our research shows governments are already making that choice.
We take hate speech and disinformation seriously. But censorship isn't the solution — you are.
That's why we've created our counterspeech toolkit, now available in 10 languages, including Turkish.
That's why we've created our counterspeech toolkit, now available in 10 languages, including Turkish.
December 22, 2025 at 9:31 PM
We take hate speech and disinformation seriously. But censorship isn't the solution — you are.
That's why we've created our counterspeech toolkit, now available in 10 languages, including Turkish.
That's why we've created our counterspeech toolkit, now available in 10 languages, including Turkish.
We want to thank you for making this year the most productive in our organization’s history. With your support, we produced timely work that brought clarity amid mounting pressure on free speech.
But the threats to free speech are accelerating—and your continued support matters now more than ever.
But the threats to free speech are accelerating—and your continued support matters now more than ever.
December 22, 2025 at 7:34 PM
We want to thank you for making this year the most productive in our organization’s history. With your support, we produced timely work that brought clarity amid mounting pressure on free speech.
But the threats to free speech are accelerating—and your continued support matters now more than ever.
But the threats to free speech are accelerating—and your continued support matters now more than ever.
AI regulation is accelerating worldwide—and so are the risks to free expression. Our .exe-pression newsletter breaks down the most important AI governance developments from the past two months and what they mean for speech.
December 19, 2025 at 5:09 PM
AI regulation is accelerating worldwide—and so are the risks to free expression. Our .exe-pression newsletter breaks down the most important AI governance developments from the past two months and what they mean for speech.
Legislative changes and court decisions around the world are changing the boundaries of what we can and can't say. We've gathered all the latest developments in this week's Free Flow newsletter.
December 19, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Legislative changes and court decisions around the world are changing the boundaries of what we can and can't say. We've gathered all the latest developments in this week's Free Flow newsletter.
Reposted by The Future of Free Speech
From firings triggered by online outrage to government jawboning, this wide-ranging discussion is thoughtful, sharp, and essential for anyone who wants to defend free speech.
SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube for more videos from our 2025 Summit: www.youtube.com/@FutureFreeS...
SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube for more videos from our 2025 Summit: www.youtube.com/@FutureFreeS...
The Future of Free Speech
The Future of Free Speech is an independent, non-partisan think tank located at Vanderbilt University. We work to restore a resilient global culture of free speech in the digital age through knowledge...
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:13 PM
From firings triggered by online outrage to government jawboning, this wide-ranging discussion is thoughtful, sharp, and essential for anyone who wants to defend free speech.
SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube for more videos from our 2025 Summit: www.youtube.com/@FutureFreeS...
SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube for more videos from our 2025 Summit: www.youtube.com/@FutureFreeS...
Reposted by The Future of Free Speech
ICYM our #FreeSpeechSummit2025, here’s a standout session.
In a live recording of Advisory Opinions, @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social and Sarah Isgur dig into some of the biggest First Amendment battles unfolding in America. youtu.be/aEDJyyc8LVY?...
In a live recording of Advisory Opinions, @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social and Sarah Isgur dig into some of the biggest First Amendment battles unfolding in America. youtu.be/aEDJyyc8LVY?...
Is Security The New Excuse To Silence Speech? | Advisory Opinions Live ft. Sarah Isgur, David French
YouTube video by The Future of Free Speech
youtu.be
December 11, 2025 at 9:13 PM
ICYM our #FreeSpeechSummit2025, here’s a standout session.
In a live recording of Advisory Opinions, @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social and Sarah Isgur dig into some of the biggest First Amendment battles unfolding in America. youtu.be/aEDJyyc8LVY?...
In a live recording of Advisory Opinions, @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social and Sarah Isgur dig into some of the biggest First Amendment battles unfolding in America. youtu.be/aEDJyyc8LVY?...
The U.S.—once the world’s leading defender of free expression—is pulling back from that role just as censorship models are spreading globally.
🚨 In light of #HumanRightsDay, @mchangama.bsky.social reflects on what such a retreat means for global free speech.
🚨 In light of #HumanRightsDay, @mchangama.bsky.social reflects on what such a retreat means for global free speech.
December 11, 2025 at 9:01 PM
The U.S.—once the world’s leading defender of free expression—is pulling back from that role just as censorship models are spreading globally.
🚨 In light of #HumanRightsDay, @mchangama.bsky.social reflects on what such a retreat means for global free speech.
🚨 In light of #HumanRightsDay, @mchangama.bsky.social reflects on what such a retreat means for global free speech.
AI companies talk a lot about reducing bias, but our new AI report shows they’re missing a key part of free expression.
Chatbots are more willing to answer sensitive questions, but they're avoiding generating certain viewpoints.
Chatbots are more willing to answer sensitive questions, but they're avoiding generating certain viewpoints.
December 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
AI companies talk a lot about reducing bias, but our new AI report shows they’re missing a key part of free expression.
Chatbots are more willing to answer sensitive questions, but they're avoiding generating certain viewpoints.
Chatbots are more willing to answer sensitive questions, but they're avoiding generating certain viewpoints.