Comments to the Federal Communications Commission RE: In the Matter of Early License Renewal Applications of Disney’s ABC Stations MB Docket No. 26-131 July 29, 2026 I. Introduction The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken the almost unprecedented step of requiring eight Disney owned ABC stations to renew their broadcast licenses years before they were […]
By Natalie Alkiviadou and Jacob Mchangama Introduction In Germany, an artist and activist was arrested multiple times, once for wearing a Palestinian flag and again for holding a sign that read “from the river to the sea, we demand equality.” [1] In France, a mayor was held criminally liable, not for what he said, but […]
Comments to the Federal Communications Commission RE: In the Matter of the Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Petition by Disney’s ABC Asking the FCC to Declare that The View Qualifies as a Bona Fide News Interview Program and Thus Is Exempt from the Statutory Equal Opportunities Requirements MB Docket No. 26-124 June 18, 2026 The […]
By Jordi Calvet-Bademunt Abstract Concerns about misinformation and disinformation are central to debates on the governance of generative AI services, yet guidance on when and how providers should restrict mis/disinformation while respecting freedom of expression remains underdeveloped. AI usage policies are a primary mechanism of user guidance and, in practice, operate as a form of […]
Comments to the Federal Communications Commission RE: In the Matter of Further Empowering Parents to Protect Their Children and Make Informed Choices About TV Programs Their Children Watch MB Docket No. 19-41 May 21, 2026 The Future of Free Speech is an independent, nonpartisan think tank located at Vanderbilt University. We work to reaffirm freedom […]
Executive Summary Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the way people access information and create content, pushing us to consider whether existing frameworks remain fit for purpose. Less than three years after ChatGPT’s launch, hundreds of millions of users now rely on models from OpenAI and other companies for learning, entertainment, and work. Against a […]
Why You Should Care About Algorithms, Free Speech, and Section 230 “I built this algo brick by brick.” You might have seen that sentence in the comments section while scrolling TikTok’s “For You Page” or Instagram Reels. It usually appears as a humorous reference to the fact that the commenter is seeing something in their […]
The UK government’s Commission for Countering Extremism commissioned Jacob Mchangama to contribute a piece to a collection of essays called “Countering extremism: defending free speech.” Jacob’s contribution was called, “From safety valve to pressure cooker: when silencing speech fuels extremism.” Read an excerpt below: Introduction: Free Expression as a Safety Valve In 1964, Nelson Mandela […]
Abstract This paper critically assesses the European approach to regulating online hate speech through platform liability frameworks, focusing on Germany’s Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) and the European Union’s Digital Services Act. It argues that these laws, while aiming to curb online harm, risk infringing on the right to freedom of expression and non-discrimination by delegating […]
By Ashkhen Kazaryan Below is an excerpt from our pubic comment. Click here to read the full submission. Comments on the Rule 15 CSR 60-19 Proposed by the Attorney General of Missouri The Future of Free Speech is an independent, nonpartisan think tank located at Vanderbilt University. We work to reaffirm freedom of expression as the bedrock […]