Americans oppose online censorship and now favor protecting free expression, even at the risk of false information being shared. At the same time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the closure of a major federal office that previously led efforts to combat so-called disinformation online.
In 2023, 55% of Americans supported government censorship of online content deemed false. That number has now dropped to 51%. Support for tech platforms restricting false information also declined from 65% in 2023 to 60% this year. At the same time, support for protecting free speech has risen, with 47% now believing that freedom of information should be prioritized even if it means some false information circulates.
The partisan divide remains clear. Only 43% of Republicans currently support government restrictions on false information, compared to 58% of Democrats. That Democrat support has fallen sharply from 70% just two years ago. Republican skepticism of government censorship has remained largely steady, reflecting deeper concerns over how these powers have been used in practice.
The shift in public sentiment comes as the Trump administration moves to dismantle parts of the federal censorship infrastructure. Last week, Secretary Rubio announced the shutdown of the State Department’s Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office, formerly known as the Global Engagement Center. The office, which cost taxpayers over $50 million annually, was criticized for suppressing American voices and targeting dissent under the guise of countering foreign influence.
Rubio stated that Americans have faced punishment, censorship, and even criminal consequences simply for expressing their views. “That ends today,” he declared, signaling a clear break from previous policies that favored government-led content moderation.
The closure marks a significant policy shift in favor of constitutional protections for speech. It reflects growing distrust among Americans toward government and tech companies deciding what qualifies as “false” information. With censorship tools increasingly viewed as political weapons, the public appears more willing to accept the risk of misinformation in order to preserve freedom of expression.
