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
In authoritarian countries, encrypted messaging apps have been used by dissidents to evade government surveillance and spread information.
But even in democracies, these apps may no longer be safe havens as governments seek to expose them to scrutiny.
But even in democracies, these apps may no longer be safe havens as governments seek to expose them to scrutiny.
January 29, 2026 at 9:28 PM
In authoritarian countries, encrypted messaging apps have been used by dissidents to evade government surveillance and spread information.
But even in democracies, these apps may no longer be safe havens as governments seek to expose them to scrutiny.
But even in democracies, these apps may no longer be safe havens as governments seek to expose them to scrutiny.
"Worse than the 1950s."
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, Randall Kennedy sounds the alarm on the "perilous" state of free speech and the federal government's unprecedented actions.
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, Randall Kennedy sounds the alarm on the "perilous" state of free speech and the federal government's unprecedented actions.
January 29, 2026 at 5:05 PM
"Worse than the 1950s."
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, Randall Kennedy sounds the alarm on the "perilous" state of free speech and the federal government's unprecedented actions.
At #FreeSpeechSummit2025, Randall Kennedy sounds the alarm on the "perilous" state of free speech and the federal government's unprecedented actions.
NEW: After federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minnesota, the American people fact-checked their own government in real time.
But that kind of accountability has not always been possible. 🧵⤵️
But that kind of accountability has not always been possible. 🧵⤵️
January 28, 2026 at 10:58 PM
NEW: After federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minnesota, the American people fact-checked their own government in real time.
But that kind of accountability has not always been possible. 🧵⤵️
But that kind of accountability has not always been possible. 🧵⤵️
Are we forgetting history?
Jonathan Turley challenges the idea that today’s free speech crisis is "unprecedented."
Jonathan Turley challenges the idea that today’s free speech crisis is "unprecedented."
January 28, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Are we forgetting history?
Jonathan Turley challenges the idea that today’s free speech crisis is "unprecedented."
Jonathan Turley challenges the idea that today’s free speech crisis is "unprecedented."
Has the Trump administration made any positive moves on free speech?
Jonathan Turley says going toe-to-toe with the EU over online speech deserves credit.
Jonathan Turley says going toe-to-toe with the EU over online speech deserves credit.
January 27, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Has the Trump administration made any positive moves on free speech?
Jonathan Turley says going toe-to-toe with the EU over online speech deserves credit.
Jonathan Turley says going toe-to-toe with the EU over online speech deserves credit.
Can the NFL really claim "neutrality" if it prevents players from expressing strong opinions while taking overt political stances on other issues?
Given its immense cultural power and influence, @ashkhen.bsky.social argues that the NFL should do better if it wants to reflect American values.
Given its immense cultural power and influence, @ashkhen.bsky.social argues that the NFL should do better if it wants to reflect American values.
The NFL Is A Speech Referee (And Not A Good One)
The NFL can't claim "neutrality" when it endorses certain political messages over others.
www.bedrockprinciple.com
January 23, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Can the NFL really claim "neutrality" if it prevents players from expressing strong opinions while taking overt political stances on other issues?
Given its immense cultural power and influence, @ashkhen.bsky.social argues that the NFL should do better if it wants to reflect American values.
Given its immense cultural power and influence, @ashkhen.bsky.social argues that the NFL should do better if it wants to reflect American values.
📅 LONDON | Feb 25: How is the European Court of Human Rights reshaping the boundaries of free expression?
January 23, 2026 at 9:33 PM
📅 LONDON | Feb 25: How is the European Court of Human Rights reshaping the boundaries of free expression?
In a full 180, Rand Paul says that social media platforms "must be reined in" because a video made false claims about him.
But @ashkhen.bsky.social writes that his solution runs afoul of the First Amendment and threatens the fabric of the Internet.
But @ashkhen.bsky.social writes that his solution runs afoul of the First Amendment and threatens the fabric of the Internet.
January 22, 2026 at 10:34 PM
In a full 180, Rand Paul says that social media platforms "must be reined in" because a video made false claims about him.
But @ashkhen.bsky.social writes that his solution runs afoul of the First Amendment and threatens the fabric of the Internet.
But @ashkhen.bsky.social writes that his solution runs afoul of the First Amendment and threatens the fabric of the Internet.
Whose speech is being investigated, criminalized, or censored? This week, we're bringing more stories about how the powerful attempt to silence criticism and dissent.
🔗Read all the latest here: https://www.bedrockprinciple.com/p/police-question-miami-resident-over
🔗Read all the latest here: https://www.bedrockprinciple.com/p/police-question-miami-resident-over
January 22, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Whose speech is being investigated, criminalized, or censored? This week, we're bringing more stories about how the powerful attempt to silence criticism and dissent.
🔗Read all the latest here: https://www.bedrockprinciple.com/p/police-question-miami-resident-over
🔗Read all the latest here: https://www.bedrockprinciple.com/p/police-question-miami-resident-over
Is government repression of speech more concerning than cultural repression?
@jonrauch.bsky.social draws a crucial line between these two forms of censorship and why confusing the two misses what’s truly at stake.
@jonrauch.bsky.social draws a crucial line between these two forms of censorship and why confusing the two misses what’s truly at stake.
January 22, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Is government repression of speech more concerning than cultural repression?
@jonrauch.bsky.social draws a crucial line between these two forms of censorship and why confusing the two misses what’s truly at stake.
@jonrauch.bsky.social draws a crucial line between these two forms of censorship and why confusing the two misses what’s truly at stake.
A recent decision from the European Court of Human Rights offered a rare moment of doctrinal clarity regarding a case involving provocative expression.
January 21, 2026 at 8:58 PM
A recent decision from the European Court of Human Rights offered a rare moment of doctrinal clarity regarding a case involving provocative expression.
Free speech isn’t free if it only protects opinions we like.
Yascha Mounk explains how “consequence culture” reveals the hypocrisy behind modern free speech advocacy.
🔗 Watch the full discussion from our #FreeSpeechSummit2025 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAS_HvxhcAQ
Yascha Mounk explains how “consequence culture” reveals the hypocrisy behind modern free speech advocacy.
🔗 Watch the full discussion from our #FreeSpeechSummit2025 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAS_HvxhcAQ
January 21, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Free speech isn’t free if it only protects opinions we like.
Yascha Mounk explains how “consequence culture” reveals the hypocrisy behind modern free speech advocacy.
🔗 Watch the full discussion from our #FreeSpeechSummit2025 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAS_HvxhcAQ
Yascha Mounk explains how “consequence culture” reveals the hypocrisy behind modern free speech advocacy.
🔗 Watch the full discussion from our #FreeSpeechSummit2025 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAS_HvxhcAQ
Those who support the idea that nations, governments, or top-down organizations should have "sovereignty" over digital spaces should strongly consider what freedoms and autonomy they might be sacrificing under such a system.
January 16, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Those who support the idea that nations, governments, or top-down organizations should have "sovereignty" over digital spaces should strongly consider what freedoms and autonomy they might be sacrificing under such a system.
Reposted by The Future of Free Speech
Stop whatever you're doing and read @farzdusa.bsky.social rejoinder to "digital sovereignty" at @futurefreespeech.org's Bedrock Principle:
How Digital Sovereignty Will Lead to The Slow and Fast Erosion of The Internet
Sovereignty is not a synonym for autonomy; it is instead the uncompromising authority to impose a single will upon others.
www.bedrockprinciple.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Stop whatever you're doing and read @farzdusa.bsky.social rejoinder to "digital sovereignty" at @futurefreespeech.org's Bedrock Principle:
🚨MIAMI BEACH POLICE COME KNOCKING OVER FACEBOOK POSTS
This is the second story in a few months of police knocking on someone's door over a social media post — in America.
This is the second story in a few months of police knocking on someone's door over a social media post — in America.
January 15, 2026 at 10:48 PM
🚨MIAMI BEACH POLICE COME KNOCKING OVER FACEBOOK POSTS
This is the second story in a few months of police knocking on someone's door over a social media post — in America.
This is the second story in a few months of police knocking on someone's door over a social media post — in America.
When protests are crushed, the internet goes dark, journalists' homes are raided, and social media platforms face top-down censorship, one thing is clear: those in power fear criticism and dissent.
January 15, 2026 at 5:13 PM
When protests are crushed, the internet goes dark, journalists' homes are raided, and social media platforms face top-down censorship, one thing is clear: those in power fear criticism and dissent.
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