Libertas Institute is rated Right-Center with High factual reporting by Media Bias Fact Check.
RIGHT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources are slight to moderately conservative in bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes) to favor conservative causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Right-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate Libertas Institute Right-Center biased based on strong advocacy for free markets, deregulation, school choice, property rights, and limited government, balanced somewhat by civil-libertarian positions on privacy, criminal justice, cannabis, and police powers. We rate it High for factual reporting due to transparent authorship, generally credible sourcing, a clean fact-check record, and clearly identified policy advocacy.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER (4.5)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (1.8)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 2011 by Connor Boyack, Libertas Institute is a Utah-based libertarian public-policy organization advocating limited government, free markets, property rights, education choice, and individual liberty.
In 2024, the organization reorganized under the nonprofit Libertas Network. Libertas Institute now functions as its national policy arm, helping legislators and partner organizations implement policies first developed in Utah.
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
The Libertas Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. While it solicits donations on its website, it does not disclose the names of individual donors, thereby limiting transparency. According to InfluenceWatch, it is affiliated with the State Policy Network (SPN), a coalition of conservative think tanks funded by organizations such as DonorsTrust, the Walton Family Foundation, and the Bradley Foundation. SPN members have been linked to opposition to climate policy and national deregulatory campaigns.
Analysis / Bias
Libertas Institute advocates a clear libertarian policy philosophy emphasizing reduced regulation, lower taxes, private property, school choice, parental rights, free enterprise, and limiting government authority. Its own history highlights successful campaigns against occupational licensing, mandatory vehicle inspections, warrantless digital searches, and business regulations.
For example, Protecting Seniors from Rising Property Taxes promotes property-tax deferment for elderly homeowners, while its work on regulatory sandboxes and occupational licensing consistently favors market-based solutions.
However, Libertas does not align uniformly with Republican social conservatism. It has advocated medical cannabis legalization, restrictions on no-knock raids, civil asset-forfeiture reform, and stronger digital privacy protections.
In Legislation Will Not Protect Kids Online, its authors oppose government age-verification mandates from a civil-libertarian perspective, arguing that parental supervision and private technology are preferable to regulation.
Likewise, Federal Parent Bill of Rights criticizes a Republican-sponsored proposal because it would expand federal authority over education, illustrating that limited-government principles sometimes outweigh partisan alignment.
We therefore rate Libertas Institute Right-Center rather than Right due to its combination of strongly free-market economics with civil-libertarian positions on privacy, criminal justice, cannabis, and government surveillance.
Failed Fact Checks
- None to date
Overall, we rate Libertas Institute Right-Center biased based on strong advocacy for free markets, deregulation, school choice, property rights, and limited government, balanced somewhat by civil-libertarian positions on privacy, criminal justice, cannabis, and police powers. We rate it High for factual reporting due to transparent authorship, generally credible sourcing, a clean fact-check record, and clearly identified policy advocacy. (D. Van Zandt 08/28/2026)
Source: https://libertas.institute/
Last Updated on August 28, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check
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