Weaponizing First Amendment Rhetoric

Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/21/2022
4:00 pm - 5:15 pm

This panel is presented by the UNC Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP).

The cultural power of the First Amendment means that principles of free speech are routinely invoked in ways that extend far beyond government suppression of speech.

But should free expression be what we value beyond everything else in public life, viz. progress, equality, and inclusion? From internet trolls to election disinformation, people weaponize ‘free speech’ and First Amendment principles to do things like silence women and undermine the legitimacy of elections. This panel discusses how movements use the rhetoric of free speech and expression as a strategic tool in the service of political, social, and cultural power – and considers alternative ways of thinking about expression to reclaim our shared public life.

Panelists:

• Daniel Kreiss, Edgar Thomas Cato Distinguished Professor, UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media; Principal Researcher, Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life
• Tressie McMillan Cottom, Associate Professor, UNC School of Information and Library Science; Senior Faculty Researcher, Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life
• Shannon McGregor, Assistant Professor, UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media; Senior Faculty Researcher, Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life
• Francesca Tripodi, Assistant Professor, UNC School of Information and Library Science; Senior Faculty Researcher, Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life

The panel will be moderated by Nanditha Narayanamoorthy, postdoctoral research fellow at CITAP.

This event is free and open to the public.