Mixed Signals from Semafor Media Undersecretary Sarah Rogers on free speech, Europe’s tech crackdown, and the internet she misses
Jan 16, 2026
Sarah Rogers, Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and a former First Amendment litigator, dives into the complex world of free speech regulation. She discusses her proactive stance against European tech laws, claiming they may chill speech. Rogers shares her early internet experiences, from Gawker comment sections to today’s digital challenges, framing them within a broader context of media evolution. She addresses accusations of partisanship regarding her advocacy for platforms like X and warns against selective enforcement of speech rules.
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Courtroom Training Drives Speech Stance
- Rogers' litigation background, including a 9-0 Supreme Court win, shapes her free-speech-first perspective.
- She views regulatory moves as potential censorship risks applied by risk-averse platforms.
From Law Forum Posts To Gawker Sockpuppets
- Rogers recounts posting anonymously on a raucous law-school forum and developing sockpuppet accounts on Gawker.
- She used multiple accounts to respond to potential public scrutiny around her wedding announcement.
Regulatory Gravity Causes Over-Censorship
- Rogers warns that laws like the EU's Digital Services Act can transpose national speech rules onto a global internet.
- She argues vague obligations push platforms to over-censor to avoid large fines.