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Internet Speech: A Boon to Civic Engagement
January 1, 2018  •  By IFS Staff  •    •  

The internet is an empowering and diversifying medium capable of uplifting marginalized voices. It has allowed more Americans to meaningfully participate in political dialogue and access more information and speech than ever before. It has enabled the average person to initiate and participate in movements for political and social change and to challenge power and authority. In the internet age,…

The Key to Fighting Foreign “Fake News” is More Speech, Not Less
November 8, 2017   •  By Alex Cordell   •  ,

Just over two months have passed since Facebook announced that Russian-linked accounts purchased advertisements covering a wide range of divisive topics during the 2016 ...

2016 Online Ad Spending in Perspective
November 8, 2017   •  By Scott Blackburn   •  , ,

The use of online advertisements by Russia to meddle in the 2016 campaign has featured heavily in the news. Those in favor of more ...

2016 Online Ad Spending in Perspective
November 8, 2017   •  By Alex Cordell   •  , ,

In recent weeks, the use of online advertisements by Russia to meddle in the 2016 campaign has featured heavily in news stories. Those in ...

Targeted Advertising is Neither a Problem Nor New
November 6, 2017   •  By Joe Albanese   •  ,

The evolving story about Russian intervention in the 2016 elections has spurred Congress to fixate increasingly on online advertising. Organizations with suspected links to ...

Analysis of Klobuchar-Warner-McCain Internet Ads Legislation (S. 1989, 115th Cong.): So-Called “Honest Ads Act” Is Dishonest About Its Effects
November 1, 2017   •  By Eric Wang   •  , ,

PDF of Legislative Brief available here Analysis of Klobuchar-Warner-McCain Internet Ads Legislation (S. 1989,[1] 115th Cong.) So-Called “Honest Ads Act” Is Dishonest About Its ...

Federal move to undo internet freedom would make US more like Russia, not less 
October 30, 2017   •  By Eric Wang   •  ,

This week, three congressional committee hearings will probe Russian attempts to influence our election campaign last year on social media. S.1989, the recently introduced, ...

Testimony of Allen Dickerson to the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on Information Technology on Internet Speech Regulation
October 24, 2017   •  By Allen Dickerson   •  ,

This subcommittee’s consideration of online political advertisements is timely and important. Americans are increasingly turning to the Internet, rather than curated media such as ...

China’s Internet censors know how to block Russian interference
October 13, 2017   •  By Eric Wang   •  ,

Recent revelations that Russian interests used social media to interfere with the 2016 American election campaign have sent lawmakers scurrying to respond. China’s “Great ...

How government enables online outrage mobs
September 6, 2017   •  By Brad Smith   •  , ,

Bloomberg columnist Megan McArdle recently noted that “we live in fear of online mobs.” She writes that increasingly people “are terrified that something they ...

The Washington Post Holds Series of Panels on the First Amendment
June 22, 2017   •  By Joe Albanese   •  , ,

On Tuesday, The Washington Post hosted a series of First Amendment panels at its offices in an event called “Free to State: A New ...

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