ACM Statement on Academic Freedom and Scientific Collaboration

Approved by the ACM Council, June 12, 2026

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), a global scientific and educational organization representing the computing community, reaffirms the importance of openness, international collaboration, and the free exchange of ideas in advancing computing research and education.

Computing research has long addressed not only technical innovation, but also the societal implications of digital technologies, including security, privacy, online safety, misinformation, platform governance, and the broader impacts of computing systems on individuals and society. Progress in these areas depends on the ability of researchers to collaborate internationally, communicate openly, and pursue scientific inquiry without undue political or institutional pressure. Scientific progress also benefits from an environment in which scholars can exchange ideas freely, participate in professional activities, and contribute their expertise across national and institutional boundaries.

The open exchange of ideas and freedom of thought and expression are central to ACM’s mission. ACM believes that scientific progress depends on freedom of inquiry, communication, global mobility, and international collaboration for researchers worldwide. ACM remains committed to fostering an inclusive global research community in which individuals are able to pursue, discuss, and disseminate scientifically grounded work on important computing and societal challenges for the public good.