How fear of social punishment shapes campus discourse

In 2025, how free do people feel to speak their minds, and why do surveys consistently show a growing tendency to self-censor?

In this panel from the Global Free Speech Summit, Greg Lukianoff (President & CEO of FIRE) and Kevin Goldberg (President of Freedom Forum) join moderator Ashkhen Kazaryan (Senior Legal Fellow, The Future of Free Speech) to unpack new First Amendment survey data and what it reveals about free speech culture in the United States.

Drawing on nationwide surveys, campus speech rankings, and recent legal cases, the panel explores rising fears of retaliation, growing acceptance of violence in response to speech, government pressure on universities and platforms, and widespread misunderstandings about what the First Amendment actually protects.

From campus culture and antisemitism debates to student deportations, cancel culture, and generational divides, the conversation examines why free expression feels increasingly fragile, and what it would take to rebuild a culture of open dialogue.

This discussion is part of the Global Free Speech Summit’s ongoing work to advance knowledge, tolerance, and democratic resilience through free expression.