Caption
Ceremonial soldiers parade during the 79th anniversary of the Victory Day in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2024. (Sefa Karacan via Getty Images)
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.
Related Events
14
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Next Steps in US-China Great Power Competition with the House Republican Policy Committee
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Kevin Hern
Congressman Troy Downing
Congressman Joe Wilson
Moderator:
Michael Sobolik
14
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Next Steps in US-China Great Power Competition with the House Republican Policy Committee
Join Hudson Senior Fellow Michael Sobolik for a panel discussion with key members of the House Republican Policy Committee.
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Kevin Hern
Congressman Troy Downing
Congressman Joe Wilson
Moderator:
Michael Sobolik
15
July 2025
Virtual Event | Online Only
The Iranian Regime Under Pressure: What’s Next?
Featured Speakers:
Mariam Memarsadeghi
Dr. Ladan Boroumand
Moderator:
Zineb Riboua
15
July 2025
Virtual Event | Online Only
The Iranian Regime Under Pressure: What’s Next?
Join Zineb Riboua, research fellow and program manager at Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, for a conversation with Mariam Memarsadeghi, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and Dr. Ladan Boroumand, cofounder of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights.
Featured Speakers:
Mariam Memarsadeghi
Dr. Ladan Boroumand
Moderator:
Zineb Riboua
15
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Drone Warfare and Securing America’s Military Against Emerging Threats with Senator John Boozman
Featured Speakers:
Senator John Boozman
Thomas H. Shugart
Timothy A. Walton
15
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Drone Warfare and Securing America’s Military Against Emerging Threats with Senator John Boozman
Senator John Boozman (R-AR), chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, will join Senior Fellow Timothy A. Walton for a conversation on how the US can mitigate these risks and accelerate the fielding of forces and infrastructure to retain US advantage.
Featured Speakers:
Senator John Boozman
Thomas H. Shugart
Timothy A. Walton
15
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Countering Communist Cyborgs: China’s Dystopian AI Ambitions and the Robotics Race
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Bill Huizenga
Martijn Rasser
Divyansh Kaushik
Bill Drexel
Moderator:
Michael Sobolik
15
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Countering Communist Cyborgs: China’s Dystopian AI Ambitions and the Robotics Race
Senior Fellow Michael Sobolik will host an event to introduce his new white paper featuring policy recommendations for the Trump administration and Capitol Hill to help secure America’s innovation advantage.
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Bill Huizenga
Martijn Rasser
Divyansh Kaushik
Bill Drexel
Moderator:
Michael Sobolik
Related Research
Caption
A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard with a shotgun as his fellow soldiers install anti-drone nets over a road at an undisclosed location in the eastern Donetsk region on July 8, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Roman Pilipey via Getty Images)
Caption
China Insider Logo
Caption
Ukrainian soldiers calibrate an agricultural drone, transformed into a front-line delivery system, during a demonstration at an undisclosed location near Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, on June 14, 2025. (Florent Vergnes via Getty Images)