Category: Freedom of Speech and Expression

Russia Strengthens Its Internet Controls in Critical Year for Putin

Facing an election this weekend and the fallout from Aleksei Navalny’s death and the war in Ukraine, Russia has intensified online censorship using techniques pioneered by China.
TikTok Turns to Creators to Fight Possible Ban

Dozens of popular figures on the app have traveled to Washington to urge lawmakers to oppose a bill that could result in the platform being blocked in the United States.
House Passes Bill to Force TikTok Sale From Chinese Owner or Ban the App

The legislation received wide bipartisan support, with both Republicans and Democrats showing an eagerness to appear tough on China.
Supreme Court Seems Open to Free Speech Challenges to Social Media Laws

The tech industry argues that laws in Florida and Texas, prompted by conservative complaints about censorship, violate the First Amendment. The court’s decision could fundamentally alter the nature of speech on the internet.
What to Know About the Supreme Court Case on Free Speech on Social Media

Both Florida and Texas passed laws regulating how social media companies moderate speech online. The laws, if upheld, could fundamentally alter how the platforms police their sites.
Substack Says It Will Not Ban Nazis or Extremist Speech

Responding to criticism of its hands-off approach to content moderation, the company said it would not ban Nazi symbols or extremist rhetoric so long as newsletter writers do not incite violence.
Wang Gang’s Egg Fried Rice Video and Free Speech in China

A popular chef’s video was attacked as a jab at Mao Zedong’s dead son. But what if a recipe for egg fried rice was just a recipe for egg fried rice?
The E.U. Is Investigating Elon Musk’s Platform X

The inquiry is perhaps the most substantial regulatory move to date against X, which has seen a rise in incendiary content on the platform, according to researchers.
Jeff Koons Killed Her Review

The decision by an arts journal to allow a famous artist to veto a historian’s essay about his work created “a chilling effect on the critical culture,” a journalism expert said.
State Dept.’s Fight Against Disinformation Comes Under Attack

The Global Engagement Center has become the focus of Republican-led criticism that the U.S. government coerces social media platforms into removing offensive content.
Judge Halts TikTok Ban in Montana

TikTok, which is owned by a Chinese company, has been locked in a legal battle with Montana since the state passed the ban in April.
Behind the Donor Revolt at Penn

Some alumni want the president to resign. They are angry about a Palestinian conference and Penn’s response to the Hamas attacks — as well as D.E.I. and transgender rights.