The global landscape for free speech is under threat, a new report shows, as open democracies implement restrictive measures in response to challenges. The report is a comprehensive analysis by the Future of Free Speech project, examining data from 22 open democracies spanning 2015 to 2022. The project is housed at Vanderbilt University. And the […]
Evidence Is Growing That Free Speech Is Declining! Jacob Mchangama is unfolding the findings from our latest report in Foreign Policy. “The scale of speech restrictions in the shrinking club of open democracies suggests that while democracies face serious challenges, the prescribed cure to these ills risks becoming worse than the disease.” Read the piece
The FoFS Tracker for DSA Enforcement compiles the investigations undertaken by the European Commission on Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) following the entry into force of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The tracker has been prepared by The Future of Free Speech (FoFS), based on the press releases […]
Far-right provocateurs burning Qurans led Denmark to pass a law forbidding “improper treatment” of religious texts. History shows this is a very bad idea. Read the article
WHAT The Future of Free Speech Project (FFS) cordially invites you to register for our forthcoming (November 2023) training sessions on our new counter-speech toolkit developed in cooperation with the Dangerous Speech Project. Experts will offer insights into the meaning, role and use of counter-speech. counter-speech toolkit The trainings are primarily targeted for civil society […]
“Those who support silencing “dangerous” opinions coercively have failed to answer the question: Are we really safer when we know less about what motivates our neighbors?” – CEO Jacob Mchangama in Persuasion Access article
Joan Barata Senior Legal Fellow, Future of Free Speech (Justitia) Introduction The Digital Services Act (DSA) constitutes the new legal horizontal framework in the EU regarding the provision of online services. It formally came into force on 16 November 2022. However, a significant number of rules and obligations included in this Regulation will become enforceable […]
Free speech scholars and advocates have written about the general decline in freedom of expression that has occurred over the past two decades. Despite great technological advances that make communicating immensely easier—social media, encrypted communications, and ubiquitous computers and cell phones—many governmental policies and public opinion around the world have soured on the importance of expression. In this recession of free speech, […]
The Declaration: The Westminster Declaration We write as journalists, artists, authors, activists, technologists, and academics to warn of increasing international censorship that threatens to erode centuries-old democratic norms. Coming from the left, right, and centre, we are united by our commitment to universal human rights and freedom of speech, and we are all deeply concerned […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As artificial intelligence (AI) expands its impact on the world and online, scholars at Vanderbilt University are discussing ways to use the system to combat hate speech. Scholars within the Vanderbilt community along with researchers, free speech, and human rights activists and lawyers are taking part in a two-day symposium on AI and […]