Life, Liberty, and the Right to Shitpost

Online platforms, and the large companies that run them, increasingly mediate our free expression, economic activity, and family and community life. With this shift, we face a multitude of potential intrusions into our private lives, including the risk of new forms of surveillance and censorship.

These platforms are increasingly held responsible—by politicians, the media, and even their own employees—for allowing and amplifying harmful actions their users. This includes the spread false information, violent extremism, targeted harassment, and other societal harms. This has led to a rise in moderation, narrowing the scope of acceptable speech and behavior.

Would Elon Musk's vision have been better, or was it unworkable? Regardless of who's in charge, are central authorities the right governance approach, or would these challenges be better handled by distributed communities? Will the future continue the trend of tech concentration, or will the pendulum swing back—potentially with the help of regulators—from the cathedral of Big Tech to the bazaar of the open web?

We invite you to join us as we explore these issues and more, covering the balance and the boundaries of free speech, and the future of online platforms.

• Renée DiResta // Research Manager, Stanford Internet Observatory // @NoUpside

• Mike Solana // VP, Founders Fund; Editor-in-Chief, Pirate Wires; Ringleader, Hereticon // @micsolana

• Antonio García Martínez // Senior Fellow, Lincoln Network; Author of and The Pull Request // @antoniogm

• Alex Stamos // Director, Stanford Internet Observatory; Founding Partner, Krebs Stamos Group // @alexstamos

• Content Moderator: Gilad Edelman // Senior Writer, WIRED // @GiladEdelman

• 6:00 pm // Doors Open

• 6:30 pm // Panel Discussion

• 7:30 pm // Audience Q&A

• 7:45 pm // Reception

This event will be live streamed. Please register as a "virtual attendee" to receive the link.

Lincoln Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to advance a more perfect union between technology and the American republic. If you are interested in sponsoring this event or others like it, please contact [email protected].

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, United States