Free Expression

The internet and new technologies give individuals the ability to publish and receive information, participate in political processes, and share knowledge. CDT has fought to extend the highest level of free speech protections to the internet and to keep new technologies free of government censorship and content gatekeepers. Private online service providers need to be protected from legal liability for content posted by users so that they will be willing to host it. User choice and control, which allow individuals to decide what to say, publish and access online, are essential parts of protecting free expression rights.

Free Expression Topics

Recent Content

Graphic for CDT Research report, entitled "Moderating Tamil Content on Social Media." Illustration of a hand, with a variety of golden rings and bracelets on their wrist and fingers, seen pinching / holding on to a blue speech bubble with three dots indicating that someone is contemplating expressing themselves. A deep green background with a kolam pattern.

Moderating Tamil Content on Social Media

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CDT Files Amicus Brief in Patterson v. Meta

EU Tech Policy Brief banner, May 2025, CDT Europe logo, interconnected hexagons

EU Tech Policy Brief: May 2025

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CDT Opposes Trump Administration Initiative to Routinely Collect Social Media Identifiers from Applicants for Immigration Benefits

The CDT logo. A light and dark grey "cdt" alongside "Center for Democracy & Technology" on a white background.

Automated Tools for Social Media Monitoring Irrevocably Chill Millions of Noncitizens’ Expression

White text on a dark blue / green background: "Lifting up the voices of CDT's Non-Resident Fellows."

Why We Need a Digital Rights Framework for Gender-Diverse Communities

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