The Future of Free Speech

Control the word, control the world.

Join Jacob Mchangama in Nashville on June 17 for a lively discussion on why free speech is the prerequisite for liberty, with powerful historical examples.

Brought to you by AIER’s Harwood Salons Speaker Series.

Register here while there are still spots left: https://aier.org/event/the-first-freedom/

Are Western democracies failing free speech?

At Carnegie Europe, Natalie Alkiviadou says that laws, platform regulations, and border controls are increasingly being used to shape what can be said and who can speak.

Read what she and experts around the world had to say at: https://carnegieendowment.org/europe/strategic-europe/2026/06/taking-the-pulse-are-western-democracies-failing-free-speech

The UK denied entry to left-wing American political commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur just days before they were scheduled to speak at SXSW.

The rationale? Their talks “may not be conducive to the public good.”

What do liberal democracies sacrifice when they deny entry to individuals based solely on the ideas they espouse? And who gets to determine what viewpoints undermine “the public good”?

Find out where else speech crackdowns are taking place this week: https://www.bedrockprinciple.com/p/pentagon-bars-journalists-from-press

Australia is cracking down on protests and “antisemitism.”

At The Bedrock Principle, Nick Quefferus argues that weak, implied free speech protections—rather than an entrenched right—are giving governments sweeping powers to police offense and ban protest.

And it's not just Australia. The UK and Australia are increasingly "swapping" approaches to protest restriction, from record arrests of climate protesters to charging people over Palestine slogans.

Read the full essay here: https://www.bedrockprinciple.com/p/aussie-rules-trading-protest-crackdowns

🏳️‍🌈 In the U.S., Pride month is sure to be filled with chants, floats, and celebration.

But Pride may not look the same in countries like Belarus and Russia, which have sought to restrict or even outright ban LGBTQ+ speech.

At Reason, Ashkhen Kazaryan points out that if we don’t apply the First Amendment’s speech protections to even the most offensive speech at home, we might also lose our ability to celebrate the ideas we believe in most.

🔗Read the full piece: https://reason.com/2025/06/26/pride-is-a-triumph-of-the-first-amendment/

Federal prosecutors in D.C. are reportedly trying to unmask anonymous Reddit and X users who have criticized government deportation efforts.

If their strategy succeeds, it could circumvent First Amendment protections that have safeguarded anonymous critics for decades, both offline and online.

🔗 Find out how and read the full piece at The Bedrock Principle: https://www.bedrockprinciple.com/p/the-trump-administration-attempts

He was sent to prison for organizing non-violent street protests calling for freedom in Venezuela. She led a campaign to free him.

At the , Leopoldo López and Lilian Tintori will share the cost of defiance under dictators— and why we should never take the freedom to dissent for granted.

Get your tickets to the now— early bird pricing ends tomorrow: https://www.globalfreespeechsummit.com/tickets-2026

“Openness” is commonly cited as a necessary feature of democracy. But why is it actually important?

At the , Johan Norberg will discuss how openness to new ideas and dissent doesn’t just ensure accountability — it’s the key to flourishing societies.

Don’t miss out. Find out how openness is a better solution than restriction and get your tickets to the while early-bird discounted prices last: https://www.globalfreespeechsummit.com/tickets-2026

Has America's 250-year-old free speech tradition advanced freedom and equality for all? Or become a shield for the powerful?

Eugene Volokh and Mary Anne Franks will debate the legacy of the First Amendment on America's 250th birthday at the 2026 Global Free Speech Summit. 🧵

Be there for this important debate — get your tickets to the now: https://www.globalfreespeechsummit.com/tickets-2026

Early bird pricing available until June 1.