Free Speech & Social Media
Safeguarding the vitality and integrity of public discourse online
Conversations that once took place in parks, sidewalks, and public squares now take place largely online, and often on privately owned social media platforms. As a society, we are just beginning to grapple with the question of how the First Amendment and free speech principles should apply in these digital spaces.
Our work seeks to illuminate the forces that are shaping public discourse online, and to ensure the inclusivity and integrity of digital spaces that are increasingly important to our democracy.
Featured
LATEST NEWS & ANALYSIS
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Press Statement
Knight Institute Sues for Records on Government’s Reversal on Mandatory Social Media Disclosure Policy
FOIA lawsuit seeks records concerning OIRA’s approval of a policy nearly identical to one it previously rejected
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Press Statement
Federal Court Suspends Trump Immigration Policy Targeting Technology Researchers
Court finds policy likely violates the First Amendment by targeting protected research and advocacy based on viewpoint
LITIGATION & ADVOCACY
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Amicus Brief
Patterson v. Meta Platforms, Inc.
A N.Y. Court of Appeals case addressing whether Section 230 immunizes the use of recommendation algorithms.
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Lawsuit
Coalition for Independent Technology Research v. Rubio
A challenge to an immigration policy targeting tech researchers and online safety workers
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Amicus Brief
Harvard College v. HHS
A lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s retaliatory targeting of Harvard College
RESEARCH
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Essays and Scholarship
The Right to Access Foreign Communicative Infrastructure
Foreign social media platforms are unique associational and speech infrastructures that should be treated differently from other foreign infrastructure, challenging the Supreme Court's view of these platforms in TikTok Inc. v. Garland
By Chinmayi Arun
Events
Joseph D. Jamail Lecture Hall
The Encampments: Film Screening & Discussion
Columbia University
Optimizing for What? Algorithmic Amplification and Society
A two-day symposium exploring algorithmic amplification and distortion as well as potential interventions