The Young Americans for Freedom chapter at Michigan Technological University will host Ian Haworth for a public lecture on Mar. 20 at 7 p.m. in Fisher Hall, Room 139. The event is free and open to the public, and will feature a speech followed by a question-and-answer session.
Haworth is a conservative writer, speaker, and podcast host with a background in computer science. He has been a frequent commentator on issues related to technology, free speech, and media practices, and commonly addresses concerns over content moderation and the role of social media platforms in shaping public discourse. He regularly speaks on college campuses and appears on television and radio outlets, including Fox Business, One America News Network, and Newsmax.
Originally from the United Kingdom, he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science from Oxford University. After moving to the United States in 2013, he worked as a software engineer in Silicon Valley at Facebook and was part of the company’s misinformation and fact-checking teams.
Haworth later transitioned to political commentary and media analysis. He has contributed to several publications, including The Daily Wire, Townhall, The American Mind, The Washington Examiner, and The Federalist. He also writes a Substack newsletter titled, “The Truth With an Accent.”
In an interview on The Federalist Radio Hour, Haworth reflected on his time at Facebook, saying fact-checking policies, while intended to curb misinformation, sometimes resulted in “an abuse of power” that disproportionately affected certain political viewpoints.
In a Daily Wire article, “Facebook’s New ‘Oversight Board’ Is A Victory For The Social Media Censorship Mob”, he wrote that Facebook’s oversight board allowing users to appeal content removals was “nothing short of a monumental attack on free speech online.” He has also argued that content moderation systems can sometimes “empower users to suppress content they disagree with, rather than fostering open dialogue.”
Students, faculty, and community members are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion. For more information, visit Michigan Tech’s event calendar or the Young Americans for Freedom website.
