Category: Freedom of Speech and Expression

Telegram’s Top Executive Pavel Durov Reportedly Detained in France

The founder of Telegram, an app with more than 900 million users, was taken into custody by authorities, French media reported.
Pakistan’s Internet Disruptions Stoke Fears of Government Surveillance

Disruptions have fueled claims from rights groups that the Pakistani authorities are introducing technology to surveil and control the country’s internet.
Senate Passes Child Online Safety Bill, Sending It to an Uncertain House Fate

The legislation would impose stricter privacy rules and safeguards for children on the internet and social media, but concerns about free speech and fierce industry lobbying pose challenges.
Justice Dept. Defends TikTok Law That Forces App’s Sale or Ban

In its first detailed response to a legal challenge, the agency said TikTok’s proposed changes wouldn’t prevent China from using it to collect U.S. users’ data or spread propaganda.
Is Xenophobia on Chinese Social Media Teaching Real-World Hate?

Violent attacks on foreigners have prompted a debate about extreme nationalism online in a country that heavily censors information the government bans.
How Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom of Speech” Painting Went Viral

“Freedom of Speech,” the World War II-era painting by Norman Rockwell, has taken on a new life online.
How Julian Assange Lit the Fuse on the Digital World

In his brazen quest for total transparency, the WikiLeaks founder paved the way for a world in which no secret is safe and no institution trusted.
Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Biden Administration’s Contacts With Social Media Companies

The case, one of several this term on how the First Amendment applies to technology platforms, was dismissed on the ground that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue.
Columbia Grads Reflect on How the Campus Protests Have Shaped Them

As students in Columbia’s class of 2024 received their diplomas, many of them were grappling with what intense activism on campus would mean to their futures.
YouTube Blocks ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ in the City

Responding to a court order, YouTube and its sister company, Google, will block viewers in the region from viewing videos of the song, “Glory to Hong Kong.”
Iranian Film Director Mohammad Rasoulof Flees Country After Jail Sentence

Mohammad Rasoulof, known for the award-winning “There Is No Evil,” had been barred from leaving Iran after his work criticized the country’s clerical leadership.
Hong Kong Court Bans “Glory to Hong Kong,” a Pro-Democracy Song

The decision could give the government power to force Google and other tech companies to limit access to “Glory to Hong Kong,” an anthem of 2019 protests.