The Internet and social media have played an incredible role in facilitating communication and disseminating diverse viewpoints. Despite connecting people like never before and promoting free speech to an unprecedented extent, the Internet has also served to undermine our social values and drive people apart. Racism, profanity, pornography, and misogyny are as common on social media as mutual friends and hashtags.
Internet culture’s proclivity towards profanity and incivility is largely related to the anonymity of Internet speech. Users are able to hide behind a username or Twitter handle, and avoid being held personally accountable for their online conduct. The result is an erosion of decency in Internet communications. Is it possible to reconcile the norms of civil society with Internet culture? How ought online decorum be enforced?
On July 6th, Hudson Institute hosted Jeffrey Herbst, President and CEO of the Newseum, for a discussion on protecting free speech while promoting civility in Internet communications. Harold Furchtgott-Roth, Director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for the Economics of the Internet, moderated the event.
Join Hudson Institute for a conference with leaders from industry, government, academia, and defense to discuss the latest developments in the US-China AI competition.
Join House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) for a fireside discussion with Senior Fellow Nadia Schadlow on Congress’s role in revitalizing America’s defense industrial base.
Please join Hudson Institute for a special address on the current state-of-play by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will join remotely, followed by a question-and-answer session on the war with Hudson Institute President and CEO John Walters.
Bill Frauenhofer, executive director for semiconductor investment and innovation at the US Department of Commerce, will join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow David Feith for an invitation-only fireside chat on semiconductor onshoring and the role of government capital in strengthening America’s technological and industrial leadership.
