Most Americans Say Free Speech Is Declining — 74% See It Moving in the Wrong Direction

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's (FIRE) October National Speech Index found that 74% of Americans believe free speech in the United States is headed in the wrong direction, up 10 points since July. The survey shows declining confidence across the political spectrum and growing concern that First Amendment protections are under strain from both government actions and social pressure.

Key findings

Public sentiment: 74% said things are moving in the wrong direction for free speech, while 26% said they are moving in the right direction. When asked about the security of free speech, 59% said the right to free speech is either "not at all secure" (22%) or "not very secure" (37%).

Partisan shifts: Confidence fell among Democrats (from 17% in July to 11% in October), Independents (31% to 19%), and Republicans (69% to 55%). The survey also notes earlier swings around the presidential transition: Democrats' optimism fell sharply after the 2020 election while Republican confidence rose.

Cultural pressures: The survey found complex views about the First Amendment: 56% completely disagreed with the statement "The First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees," while 35% said that statement "somewhat" describes their view and 8% said it "slightly" does. Additionally, 59% at least somewhat agreed with the proposition that "words can be violence," a belief observers warn can blur the line between speech and action and justify punitive responses like deplatforming.

Consequences for speech: Respondents expressed support in some cases for employment consequences for controversial remarks by professors: 45% said a professor who posted "It's O.K. to punch a Nazi" should probably or definitely be fired; 37% supported firing for calling some groups "fascist"; 24% for calling universities "progressive indoctrination centers"; and 14% for posting "We are going to make America great again." FIRE noted that while these are minority positions, the largest (endorsing violence against Nazis) approaches a majority.

Concerns about government pressure: Majorities also reported worry about government influence over private platforms: 53% were very or extremely concerned about the government pressuring social media companies to suppress viewpoints, and 52% were very or extremely concerned about federal pressure on broadcasters to remove perspectives from the airwaves.

"It's no surprise that a record number of Americans of all parties now think that it's a dire time for free speech in America," said Nathan Honeycutt, FIRE research fellow and polling manager.

The October poll was conducted amid heightened tensions over campus speech and other public controversies that prompted strong public reactions. Observers cited episodes of threats, violent incidents, and vocal calls for retaliation as background context for the survey results.

Although the United States retains robust legal protections for expression compared with many countries, the poll suggests growing public anxiety about the social and political pressures that can limit open debate. Analysts warn that conflating speech with violence and resorting to job-based or platform-based punishments risks chilling academic inquiry and public discourse.