“A Dictator’s Fantasy”: Majority of Americans Believe Free Speech Goes Too Far

More than half of Americans believe the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants too much freedom. This startling revelation comes from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which released its latest National Speech Index on Thursday. The survey, conducted with 1,000 Americans between July 5 and 10, is part of the ongoing America’s Political Pulse series by the Polarization Research Lab.

53% of respondents expressed that the First Amendment’s protections are excessive. While 47% disagreed, believing the rights are appropriate, the survey highlights a growing divide in public opinion on free speech.

Chief Research Advisor Sean Stevens from FIRE remarked, “Evidently, one out of every two Americans wishes they had fewer civil liberties. Many reject the right to assemble, have a free press, and petition the government. This is a dictator’s fantasy.”

Political affiliation played a role in the responses. A larger share of Democrats (61%) saw the First Amendment as overly generous compared to Republicans (52%).

Trust in the government’s ability to regulate speech fairly was mixed. While 35% of respondents had no trust in the government’s judgment, 27% trusted it somewhat, and an equal percentage had little trust. Only small fractions placed great or complete trust in the government’s decisions on what constitutes terrifying or intimidating speech.

The survey also explored views on university protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. A plurality (38%) believed protests should continue as a matter of free speech, while 28% supported arrests of student protesters. Stevens pointed out that while some high-profile protests involved unlawful activities, Americans generally show more tolerance for unprotected conduct than for protected speech.

The findings paint a grim picture of the state of free speech in America. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed believe the country is headed in the wrong direction concerning free expression, a sentiment that has grown since April. Only 5% feel that the right to free speech is completely secure, with another 17% considering it very secure. Meanwhile, 36% see it as somewhat secure, 30% as not very secure, and 12% as not.

In summary, the survey reveals deep-seated concerns about the scope of the First Amendment and the trust in the government’s role in regulating speech, reflecting a nation increasingly divided over its foundational freedoms.