Over 100 students from 70 universities gathered at the National Constitution Center this July for ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥â€™s 2025 Student Network Summer Conference — where they didn’t just study free speech, they defended it.
As authoritarian regimes weaponize commercial spyware to silence critics, a booming mercenary surveillance industry thrives in the shadows — and even democracies aren’t immune.
A week of dialogue, debate, and discovery, this year’s forum united students from across the country to explore free expression and build lasting connections.
After public outcry, UMich ditched its private spy firm — but the damage is done. Students may no longer be watched, but the chill on campus speech is alive and well.
