The Cato Institute has established itself as the premier libertarian think tank, advocating for free market policies and individual liberty including digital rights and internet freedom.

Libertarian Policy Framework

Free Market Advocacy: Promotes deregulation and free market solutions across industries, including technology and telecommunications.

Limited Government: Advocates for reduced government intervention in economic and social issues, including internet governance.

Individual Liberty: Emphasizes individual rights and freedoms, particularly in digital privacy and online expression.

Constitutional Principles: Grounds policy recommendations in libertarian interpretations of constitutional principles and limited government.

Internet Freedom Advocacy

Cato has been a leading voice in debates over internet freedom and digital rights from a libertarian perspective.

Net Neutrality Opposition: Generally opposes government net neutrality regulations while supporting market-based solutions.

Privacy Rights: Advocates for digital privacy rights and opposes government surveillance while supporting private sector innovation.

Cryptocurrency Support: Supports cryptocurrency innovation and opposes excessive government regulation of digital currencies.

Platform Freedom: Generally supports platform companies’ rights to moderate content while opposing government content regulation.

Political Influence

The institute’s libertarian perspective provides intellectual framework for policy debates that cross traditional party lines.

Deregulation Advocacy: Influences Republican policymakers on deregulation issues while maintaining independence from party orthodoxy.

Civil Liberties: Finds common ground with progressive organizations on civil liberties and criminal justice reform issues.

Policy Development: Provides libertarian alternatives to both conservative and progressive policy proposals.