OCTOBER 3-4, 2025
NASHVILLE, TN
On 2025 October 3rd and 4th, The Future of Free Speech and Vanderbilt University will host the second annual Global Free Speech Summit, an event to discuss the most pressing challenges threatening freedom of expression worldwide and identify impactful solutions to reinvigorate this fundamental freedom.
JOIN US OCTOBER 3-4, 2025
IN NASHVILLE, TN
OUR SPEAKERS AND PANELISTS
Tyler Cowen
Tyler Cowen
Professor of economics, columnist and blogger
Rikki Schlott
Rikki Schlott
Journalist, co-author, and podcast host on Bill Maher’s network.
Greg Lukianoff
Greg Lukianoff
FIRE CEO and co-author of The Coddling and Canceling of the American Mind.
Chemi Lhamo
Chemi Lhamo
Tibetan-Canadian activist and the Canadian representative for the International Tibet Network's Steering Committee
Jacob Mchangama
Jacob Mchangama
Founder and Executive Director, The Future of Free Speech
Alsu Kurmasheva
Alsu Kurmasheva
Journalist and editor at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Thomas Chatterton Williams
Thomas Chatterton Williams
Atlantic writer, author, and Bard visiting professor.
Renée DiResta
Renée DiResta
Professor, writer and former research manager at Stanford Internet Observatory.
Nathasha Edirisooriya
Nathasha Edirisooriya
Sri Lankan stand‑up comedian and human rights advocate
Dr. Nita Farahany
Dr. Nita Farahany
Professor of law and philosophy at Duke University and the author of The Battle for Your Brain
Jonathan Rauch
Jonathan Rauch
Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, is the author of The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth.
Sarah Isgur
Sarah Isgur
Senior editor at The Dispatch, legal analyst, and former DOJ spokesperson.
Faisal Saeed Al Mutar
Faisal Saeed Al Mutar
Founder, Ideas Beyond Borders; social entrepreneur in Middle East development.
Yascha Mounk
Yascha Mounk
Persuasion founder, podcast host, and author of The Identity Trap.
Dr. William B Irvine
Dr. William B Irvine
Philosophy professor and author of The Guide to the Good Life.
David French
David French
NYT columnist and co-host of a leading legal podcast.
Prof. Randall Kennedy
Prof Randall Kennedy
Professor at Harvard Law School , author, and public intellectual
Peter Greste
Peter Greste
Journalism professor and press freedom advocate at Macquarie University.
Peter Boghossian
Peter Boghossian
Socratic method expert, educator, and founder at University of Austin.
Prof. Ge Chen
Prof. Ge Chen
Associate professor in Global Media and Information Law at Durham Law School
Bay Fang
Bay Fang
President of Radio Free Asia; former journalist and U.S. diplomat
Jonathan Turley
Jonathan Turley
American attorney, legal scholar, writer and legal analyst
Glen Weyl
Glen Weyl
Founder, Plural Technology at Microsoft and tech liberty initiatives.
John Tomasi
John Tomasi
John Tomasi is the inaugural president of Heterodox Academy and Associate Professor of Political Science at Brown University.
John Wood Jr.
John Wood Jr.
National leader for Braver Angels, Columnist for USA TODAY
Usama Khilji
Usama Khilji
Digital rights activist and Bolo Bhi co-founder in Pakistan
Tarik Beyhan
Tarik Beyhan
Human rights and digital rights advocate; ex-Amnesty campaign director.
Kevin Goldberg
Kevin Goldberg
Vice president and first amendment expert at Freedom Forum
Matthew Johnson-Roberson
Matthew Johnson-Roberson
Dean of Vanderbilt University's College of Connected Computing
Ben Brooks
Ben Brooks
Fellow at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center and former head of public policy for Stability AI
Jodie Ginsberg
Jodie Ginsberg
CEO, Committee to Protect Journalists; media freedom advocate.
Mariam Southwell
Mariam Southwell
Co-founder of Diatove and Georgian activist.
Dr. Alice Siu
Dr. Alice Siu
Political communication expert at Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab.
Nikola Ilic
Nikola Ilic
Leadership professor, social entrepreneur, and global activism advisor.
Agustina Del Campo
Agustina Del Campo
Agustina Del Campo is a law professor and directs the CELE at Universidad de Palermo, specializing in freedom of expression and international human rights law.
Mary Kate Cary
Mary Kate Cary
Mary Kate Cary is Director of Think Again at UVA and a former White House speechwriter.
Carlos Affonso Souza
Carlos Affonso Souza
Carlos Affonso Souza is a professor at UERJ and Director of ITS Rio, known for his work on Brazil’s Internet Bill of Rights and current leadership in tech policy, data protection, and AI regulation.
2024 Highlights
