Part 11/17:
Participants expressed concern that society, driven by media and political pressures, is edging toward a dystopian future where every word and thought is surveilled, judged, and potentially punished. The use of AI to monitor speech in stadiums or the entire culture of moderation and censorship was seen as threatening the very fabric of open discourse. In the U.S., the First Amendment provides a refuge, but even there, the political climate fosters self-censorship among public figures wary of social or legal repercussions.