Category:Free Speech
Bill C-11: how Canada’s algorithm power play stifles free speech online
September 26, 2023 | Post
For the Canadian Government, Bill C-11 heralds a fresh avenue for regulation and control. It is a mechanism for both reprimanding adversaries and rewarding lobbyists. Naturally, this government dominance over media comes at the cost of freedom and diversity of content online. Here’s what’s at stake…
Defending liberty in the digital age: how useful is social media activism?
September 21, 2023 | Post
The power of information dissemination through social media networks is remarkable, with messages often going viral within seconds. Yet, it is essential to acknowledge that social media activism has its limitations.
What Jordan Peterson’s failed court appeal says about freedom of expression in Canada
August 31, 2023 | Post
In a recent legal development that has ignited debates about the intersection of freedom of expression and professional obligations, former University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson’s court appeal has been denied. What does this development tell us about freedom of expression in Canada?
A history of free speech in America
June 8, 2023 | Post
The history of free speech in the United States is a complex and fascinating topic, deeply rooted in the nation’s founding principles. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, protects the right to free speech, along with freedom of religion, the press, assembly, and petition.
An assault on anonymity: the consequences of Vietnam’s new social media policy
June 2, 2023 | Post
In Vietnam, a new regulation will take effect by January 2024 requiring all social media users to verify their identities in order to use online platforms. This move is a blatant violation of the right to free expression and privacy.
John Stossel: I don’t put my faith in politicians
June 1, 2023 | Video
Learn Liberty sat down with John Stossel for a freewheeling interview, touching on his childhood, career, current events, Edward Snowden, rapid-fire questions, and more. John gave thoughtful takes, hot takes, and funny takes. See the Chapters below for the questions we asked him. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro/Worst law ever 0:57 What started your transition from almost-socialist […]
The state of free speech among high school students
May 21, 2023 | Post
As reported in the New York Times in 2017, a Knight Foundation survey of nearly 12,000 high school students found that such students’ support for the First Amendment’s free speech protections is “stronger today than it has been in the last 12 years.” As far as it goes, this is good news given the avalanche […]
6 Pro-Liberty Moments in Beatles Music
March 22, 2023 | Video
The Beatles included pro-liberty messages in some of their most famous songs, such as: Revolution, Taxman, Think for Yourself, and Get Back, (but NOT Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds). In this video, Learn Liberty contextualizes the history and lyrics of those songs and others. We even hear directly from John Lennon via interview, George […]
The Misuse of Social Media Act: a threat to freedom of expression in Uganda
February 27, 2023 | Post
The provisions in the Misuse of Social Media Act passed by Uganda’s Parliament are highly restrictive and pose a direct threat to digital freedom. Here’s a quick breakdown of how and why…
Why Section 230 is vital for freedom of expression online
February 8, 2023 | Post
There was a time when the debate around Section 230 was limited to the underworld of D.C. tech policy folks, but this is certainly no longer the case. While this once obscure part of the Communications Decency Act was gradually becoming more of a discussion point, it was thrust into the mainstream when Twitter and Facebook banned Donald Trump from their platforms after he posted incendiary tweets. Here’s why we should defend Section 230…
Is social media a modern-day Tower of Babel?
January 6, 2023 | Post
As social media platforms use artificial intelligence to curate users’ feeds with the content they are most likely to engage with, this erects barriers to communication among people of differing opinions.
Are major tech companies stifling free speech?
January 5, 2023 | Post
Technological advances have made it much easier for individuals to express themselves, but are major tech companies now stifling free speech?
Is Elon Musk really a friend of free speech?
December 16, 2022 | Post
On December 15, 2022, under Elon Musk, Twitter suspended several prominent journalists’ accounts from publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, among others.
Elon Musk’s ego will always trump free speech
November 16, 2022 | Post
Elon Musk, who has described himself as a “free speech absolutist,” has stated in the past that there should be no permanent bans on the platform. Despite these promises, mere days into Musk’s term at the helm of Twitter, things already spun wildly out of control. Kathy Griffin has already been permanently banned from Twitter for a parody tweet, “impersonating” Musk and encouraging his followers to vote Democrat in the recent midterms.
Truth exists – and disagreement helps us reach it
September 23, 2022 | Post
When you arrive at “we think differently, and that is OK” – all interaction stops. Nobody will convince anyone of anything. Nobody is searching for answers. They simply do not want to get their feelings hurt, so they stop thinking about reality altogether. We must not place comfort above truth.
Promoting false narratives doesn’t promote liberty
August 26, 2022 | Post
The message of liberty is too important to be diluted with lies. When we propagate false narratives that appear to help us achieve our goals, we are little better than those who peddle outright lies to sell their own agenda.
Speak up! Overcoming the anxiety of free speech on campus
August 11, 2022 | Post
Do not let fear of being different or the assumption of ‘cancel culture’ define you or your college experience. You are entitled as much as anyone one else to express your view in a courteous and intelligent way; let the chips fall where they may.
Pro-liberty discourse needs to be practical and relatable
July 14, 2022 | Post
Once again, Americans are at each other’s throats, ready to fight over extremely partisan lines. Typically, this opens opportunities for the liberty movement, but our discourse has its own problems
We cannot let freedom of speech become a casualty of war
June 17, 2022 | Post
Freedom of speech during wartime is crucial for transparency. If this right doesn’t apply during wartime, does it even exist in any meaningful sense?
9 Libertarian Movie Moments That Left Us Speechless
June 8, 2022 | Video
While pro-liberty messages often get drowned in a sea of Culture War nonsense, movies have given us some awesome moments; you just have to look for them. And that’s what we did. We found 9 times libertarian truth bombs made it onto the big screen — either by making a free-market or free-speech argument eloquently […]
Free speech, fake news, and society’s search for truth
May 12, 2022 | Post
Only in a society which treasures and protects the precious right to free speech can we move the truth forward and shed light on disinformation
What Elon Musk buying Twitter means for social media and free speech
April 27, 2022 | Post
What will Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter actually mean for the future of social media and free speech online? What changes can we expect?
The Prague Spring: planting the seeds of freedom
April 6, 2022 | Post
The Prague Spring of 1968 has a legacy that proved influential in the downfall of the Eastern Bloc a generation later, and continues to inspire to this day.
Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law is about state censorship, not parental rights
March 31, 2022 | Post
Proponents of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill claim it’s about protecting students and families, yet it’s merely a pretext for limiting freedom.