Obama Calls for Government Limits on Online Speech

Former President Barack Obama recently suggested that the government should impose some regulatory constraints on online platforms to curb the spread of misinformation. Speaking at The Connecticut Forum on June 17, 2025, with historian Heather Cox Richardson, Obama emphasized the dangers of unchecked falsehoods online, which he believes erode public trust and are exploited by those in power.

“We’re in a place where people can’t agree on basic facts,” Obama said, warning that bad actors exploit confusion by flooding platforms with falsehoods. He referenced tactics used by Vladimir Putin and Steve Bannon, where the goal is not to convince people but to create so much doubt that truth becomes irrelevant.

He also appeared to reference former President Donald Trump, noting the danger when political figures spread lies, even when others know the truth but pretend otherwise.

Obama called for new approaches to journalism and digital media, stressing the need to distinguish between facts and opinions. He said this may require “some government regulatory constraints” that are consistent with the First Amendment, especially to curb business models that amplify hateful or violent voices.