#free-speech

[ follow ]
Environment
fromTruthout
18 hours ago

Environmental Activists Say the FBI May Be Investigating Them

FBI counterterror investigators are scrutinizing nonviolent climate activist groups like Extinction Rebellion NYC, raising concerns about federal law enforcement targeting constitutionally protected protest and free speech activities.
Intellectual property law
fromAxios
20 hours ago

Anthropic sues Pentagon over rare "supply chain risk" label

Anthropic filed lawsuits challenging the Pentagon's supply chain risk designation, arguing the government cannot blacklist companies based on policy disagreements over protected speech regarding AI safety.
#ai-regulation
Intellectual property law
fromWIRED
20 hours ago

Anthropic Sues Department of Defense Over Supply-Chain Risk Designation

Anthropic sued the Department of Defense to challenge its designation as a supply-chain risk, arguing the Pentagon's sanctions violate free speech protections and threaten hundreds of millions in government revenue.
fromArs Technica
3 days ago
Artificial intelligence

Musk fails to block California data disclosure law he fears will ruin xAI

A court ruled that xAI failed to demonstrate valid Fifth and First Amendment claims against California's law requiring AI developers to disclose their training data sources.
Intellectual property law
fromWIRED
20 hours ago

Anthropic Sues Department of Defense Over Supply-Chain Risk Designation

Anthropic sued the Department of Defense to challenge its designation as a supply-chain risk, arguing the Pentagon's sanctions violate free speech protections and threaten hundreds of millions in government revenue.
Artificial intelligence
fromArs Technica
3 days ago

Musk fails to block California data disclosure law he fears will ruin xAI

A court ruled that xAI failed to demonstrate valid Fifth and First Amendment claims against California's law requiring AI developers to disclose their training data sources.
LGBT
fromLGBTQ Nation
22 hours ago

What's your story of breaking free from shame? Tell us your story. - LGBTQ Nation

The Supreme Court will decide whether Colorado's conversion therapy ban violates free speech rights, while LGBTQ+ Nation seeks personal stories of liberation from shame and self-acceptance.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Judges To AG Pam Bondi: It's OK For The Gov't To Dox People, But Not OK For People To Dox Gov't Employees? - Above the Law

The Trump administration's DOJ seeks preferential court treatment for government employees while simultaneously prosecuting protesters with potentially unlawful charges and publicizing defendants' information on social media.
Media industry
fromwww.mediaite.com
4 days ago

Piers Morgan Unleashes on Ben Shapiro: The Guy Just Can't Take Anyone Criticising Israel's Govt'

Piers Morgan accused Ben Shapiro of being unable to tolerate criticism of Israel's government, citing Shapiro's recent attacks on Morgan's credibility and his decision to host Israel critic Dave Smith on his show.
Berlin
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago

Berlin film festival head to keep job after Gaza free speech row

Berlin film festival head Tricia Tuttle retains her position after Gaza-related free speech controversy, though the festival must develop new antisemitism code of conduct.
Right-wing politics
fromThe Nation
6 days ago

The Endless Hypocrisy of Bari Weiss

Bari Weiss canceled her UCLA lecture citing security concerns amid significant student opposition and controversy over her editorial direction at CBS News toward conservative positions.
US politics
fromLGBTQ Nation
11 months ago

The Trump admin has bizarrely banned these 10 strange words from federal websites - LGBTQ Nation

PEN America documented over 250 words reportedly being removed from government websites and documents under Trump administration policies targeting DEI and diversity-related terminology.
#academic-freedom
fromFortune
1 month ago
Higher education

Texas A&M professor who was fired for teaching gender studies sues on freedom of speech grounds | Fortune

Philosophy
fromPhilosophynow
1 month ago

News: February/March 2026

A university review of race and gender course content led to removal of Plato passages from a syllabus, effectively banning Plato's Symposium and prompting protest and syllabus revision.
Left-wing politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

Worried about freedom of speech? Then what's happening at the Open University should terrify you | Owen Jones

Pro-Israel lobby groups are conducting aggressive legal campaigns to police speech about Palestine in Western academic institutions, restricting scholarly freedom and historical terminology.
fromFortune
1 month ago
Higher education

Texas A&M professor who was fired for teaching gender studies sues on freedom of speech grounds | Fortune

Privacy technologies
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

The world wants to ban children from social media, but there will be grave consequences for us all | Taylor Lorenz

Global social media bans for minors, framed as child safety measures, enable mass surveillance and censorship while lacking evidence of effectiveness in addressing mental health crises.
fromBusiness Insider
1 week ago

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei: 'Disagreeing with the government is the most American thing in the world'

We exercised our classic First Amendment rights to speak up and disagree with the government. Disagreeing with the government is the most American thing in the world, and we are patriots in everything we have done here. We have stood up for the values of this country.
US politics
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

North Dakota judge finalizes $345m judgment against Greenpeace in pipeline case

A North Dakota judge finalized a $345 million judgment against Greenpeace for its role in Dakota Access Pipeline protests, reducing a jury's $667 million award.
UK news
fromwww.standard.co.uk
1 week ago

CPS lose bid to overturn acquittal of man who burned Koran outside Turkish consulate in London

Appeals court upheld Hamit Coskun's acquittal for burning a Quran outside the Turkish embassy, rejecting the CPS's appeal and affirming the trial judge's decision was rationally justified.
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

CPS loses bid to overturn Quran-burner's acquittal

The High Court upheld the acquittal of a man convicted of burning a Quran outside the Turkish consulate, rejecting the CPS's appeal to overturn the decision.
#antisemitism
#tommy-robinson
US politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 week ago

Tommy Robinson welcomed by Trump administration in visit to Washington

Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist with criminal convictions, met with Trump administration officials at the US State Department, highlighting the administration's promotion of free speech advocacy.
NYC politics
fromJewish Telegraphic Agency
1 week ago

Critics of NY synagogue protest 'buffer zone' bill demonstrate outside City Hall hearing - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

New York City Council held its first hearing on a bill establishing buffer zones around houses of worship, with protesters opposing it on free speech grounds and supporters backing protections for synagogues.
US politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 week ago

Teacher left depressed' after investigation over pro-Palestine protest in Sainsburys

A high school teacher faced employer investigation and mental health impacts after participating in a peaceful Palestine solidarity protest at a supermarket, revealing broader patterns of crackdowns against pro-Palestine activism.
#police-conduct
#immigration
US politics
fromGothamist
2 weeks ago

As Hochul posts AI images of herself, she aims to ban the tech in political attack ads

Governor Kathy Hochul seeks a ban on AI-generated opposition campaign ads while concurrently using AI-generated images in her own political promotions, raising legal and ethical concerns.
#immigration-law
World news
fromwww.standard.co.uk
3 weeks ago

Trump 'could give US refuge' to man who burned Koran in front of Turkish embassy in London

US may grant refugee status to a Koran-burning asylum seeker from Turkey fleeing Britain amid legal challenges and free-speech controversy.
Film
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Berlin film festival defends jury over politics and film row

Berlinale defended its jury and president Wim Wenders after controversy over comments that filmmakers should stay out of politics, prompting criticism and an author withdrawal.
US politics
fromABA Journal
3 weeks ago

Failed indictment of 6 Democratic lawmakers blamed on Jeanine Pirro-picked prosecutors

Jeanine Pirro hired an inexperienced dance photographer-lawyer to pursue failed indictments of six Democratic lawmakers over a PSA urging service members to refuse illegal orders.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

Palestine Action ban ruled unlawful but group remains proscribed for now

High Court ruled Home Office proscription of Palestine Action unlawful, but the ban stays temporarily pending legal challenges and a government appeal.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

How Appealing Weekly Roundup - Above the Law

Legal and political disputes: tariffs, Supreme Court action, prison transfers, free-speech risks, Bondi oversight, and challenges to the Voting Rights Act.
#palestine-action
#high-court-ruling
fromBBC News
3 weeks ago
UK politics

Palestine Action ban ruled unlawful but group remains proscribed for now - live updates

fromBBC News
3 weeks ago
UK politics

Palestine Action ban ruled unlawful but group remains proscribed for now - live updates

#first-amendment
fromJezebel
1 month ago
US politics

Reagan-Appointed Judge Slams Trump Admin for 'Breathtaking' Freedom of Speech Violations

fromJezebel
1 month ago
US politics

Reagan-Appointed Judge Slams Trump Admin for 'Breathtaking' Freedom of Speech Violations

#social-media
#reform-uk
fromLGBTQ Nation
3 weeks ago

Newsflash: Sports have always been political - LGBTQ Nation

President Donald Trump called Team USA member Hunter Hess "a real Loser" and said it was "very hard to root for someone like this" after the 27-year-old freeskier's comments about representing his country at the Winter Olympics. A reporter asked Hess at a news conference on February 6 what it means to him to represent the United States in the current climate, both domestically and internationally. He responded that it "brings up mixed emotions" and was "a little hard."
Social justice
#government-surveillance
fromHarvard Gazette
3 weeks ago

What would the Founding Fathers think of TikTok? - Harvard Gazette

By placing 80 percent of its U.S. assets under the control of non-Chinese investors, the joint venture aims to avoid an outright ban. The new investors include the technology company Oracle, the private equity company Silver Lake, and the Emirati investment firm MGX. ByteDance retains a stake of just under 20 percent and will license its algorithm to the new entity.
US politics
World news
fromwww.npr.org
3 weeks ago

Venezuelans test limits of new freedoms

Venezuela is easing repression under U.S. pressure, allowing protests and releasing political prisoners while activists probe newly expanded free-speech limits.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

Huge Merger Causing A Lot Of Separation - See Also - Above the Law

Major legal institutions face retention, reputational, recruitment, accountability, and free-speech challenges across firms, courts, DOJ, and law schools.
#ice
US politics
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

Judge Rules There Was No Reason To Detain Or Deport Grad Student Over A Damn Op-Ed Piece - Above the Law

An immigration judge ended removal proceedings against Tufts doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk after evidence showed her arrest stemmed from political speech.
US politics
fromElectronic Frontier Foundation
4 weeks ago

On Its 30th Birthday, Section 230 Remains The Lynchpin For Users' Speech

Section 230 protects online intermediaries, preserving broad online speech, preventing censorship, and protecting users; repealing it would entrench tech monopolies and increase surveillance.
US politics
fromFortune
4 weeks ago

Trump calls U.S. Olympian a 'real Loser' as athletes speak out against administration policies, while Jake Paul tells critics to 'live somewhere else' | Fortune

Some U.S. Olympians criticized U.S. immigration policies, prompting public backlash and President Trump calling an athlete a "real Loser."
fromFuturism
4 weeks ago

The Department of Homeland Security Is Demanding That Google Turn Over Information About Random Critics

"Don't play Russian roulette with [this man's] life," Jon told lead DHS prosecutor, Joseph Dernbach, in the email. "Err on the side of caution. There's a reason the US government along with many other governments don't recognise the Taliban. Apply principles of common sense and decency." Five hours later, per WaPo, Jon received a response - not from Dernbach or the DHS, but from Google.
Privacy professionals
US politics
fromLGBTQ Nation
1 month ago

Anti-trans Democrat group sues Illinois to use the word "Democrat" in their name - LGBTQ Nation

A Democratic-aligned group sued Illinois claiming free-speech violations after being barred from using 'Democrat' in its name while opposing transgender rights.
US politics
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

Jenin Younes on Threats to Free Speech from the Left and the Right

Jenin Younes moved from defending right-leaning free-speech causes to leading legal advocacy at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee while criticizing Trump-era free-speech attacks.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

When Maga oligarchs control the platforms, it isn't really a debate about free speech' | Rafael Behr

Every society recognises that words and images, in certain contexts, do harm and that incitement to commit crime can be a criminal act. There is a spectrum of tolerance and enforcement. Repression of free speech is a symptom of tyranny, but all governments regulate it to some degree. The threshold for intervention is lower when children are involved. That is why the idea of banning under-16s from social media, already operational in Australia, is catching on elsewhere.
UK politics
fromThe Nation
1 month ago

The Future of the Fourth Estate

Since Donald Trump's return to the presidency, student journalists have been instrumental in covering his administration's attacks on everything from the gutting of the Department of Education, to the rollback of diversity and equity initiatives, to the crackdown on free speech and attempted deportation of international students speaking out on Palestine. During this time of increased repression, we remain proud-as well as astonished-to be alone among national news outlets in regularly publishing student perspectives.
US politics
London
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Campaigner Peter Tatchell arrested for carrying globalise the intifada' placard

Peter Tatchell was arrested in London for holding a placard reading 'Globalise the intifada: Non-violent resistance,' sparking free-speech and protest criminalisation concerns.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Kemi Badenoch denies sacked Tory's claim party doesn't allow free speech

she was "very happy to hear from people who have different views".
UK politics
fromInside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
1 month ago

Abortion Rights Advocate Talk Canceled After TPUSA Pressure

Health Sciences Center and Texas Tech University system spokespeople didn't return Inside Higher Ed's requests for comment Thursday on who within the institution decided to nix the speech, but the Health Sciences Center sent a statement to the Scorecard saying the center "evaluated the request and determined that it is not in the best interest of the university to host this event on campus."
Higher education
#higher-education
fromFuturism
1 month ago
Higher education

They Started an Entire College Dedicated to Resisting Cancel Culture, and Then the Funniest Possible Thing Happened

fromFuturism
1 month ago
Higher education

They Started an Entire College Dedicated to Resisting Cancel Culture, and Then the Funniest Possible Thing Happened

Higher education
fromTruthout
1 month ago

So-Called "Intellectual Freedom Centers" Spread Right-Wing Ideologies on Campus

Campus 'civics' centers at public universities expand, promoting conservative-leaning curricula emphasizing Western tradition, free-speech culture, and donor or legislative funding.
Digital life
fromFast Company
1 month ago

UpScrolled and Skylight rising: Users race to TikTok alternatives after U.S. takeover

UpScrolled is rapidly gaining U.S. downloads as a no‑censorship short‑form video platform positioning itself as an alternative amid TikTok ownership changes.
Television
fromVulture
1 month ago

Stephen Colbert to Win an Award for Yelling at His Boss

Stephen Colbert will receive the Walter Bernstein Award for confronting social injustice and publicly criticizing CBS, corporate overlords, and the Trump administration.
Higher education
fromThe Atlantic
1 month ago

Colleges Are Stuck Between Bad Options for Fighting Hateful Ideas

University administrators face legal and moral conflict when punishing hateful student speech, risking First Amendment violations and civil-rights litigation.
New York City
fromJewish Telegraphic Agency
1 month ago

2 teens arrested for painting 73 swastikas on playground in Brooklyn area with many Jews - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Mayor Zohran Mamdani defends Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian protest leader facing deportation to Algeria, framing the move as an attack on free speech.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 month ago

Don Lemon, WaPo, Ozturk: Trump's War on the First Amendment Now Alarmingly Clear

Seizing reporters' devices, targeting student critics, and threatening journalists raise the personal and professional costs of speech and erode constitutional protections.
fromAdvocate.com
1 month ago

Trump-appointed Texas federal judge rules that drag is like blackface

Much of the ruling rests on the words of West Texas A&M President Walter Wendler, which Kacsmaryk adopted throughout his 46-page opinion. In a March 2023 email to the campus community, Wendler wrote that drag "does not preserve a single thread of human dignity," describing it as a performance that "exaggerat[es] aspects of womanhood (sexuality, femininity, gender)" and "stereotype[s] women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others."
US politics
Tech industry
fromTheregister
1 month ago

Akamai CEO wants help to defeat piracy, can do edge AI alone

Piracy is intellectual property theft and CDNs must actively prevent illegal streams instead of hiding behind free-speech claims or profiting from ignoring them.
World news
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 month ago

Trump Official Criticizes U.K. for Arresting Pro-Palestine Grandmas: Does More Harm Than Good'

Crackdowns on pro-Palestine protesters risk harming free speech, especially when applied to non-violent supporters who are not coordinating with violent groups.
US politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Democrat targeted by Trump attacks authoritarian' effort to intimidate critics

Trump's administration uses legal and physical intimidation tactics to deter critics, mirroring authoritarian playbooks and prompting investigations of Democrats including Elissa Slotkin.
New York City
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 month ago

Mamdani Calls for Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil to Remain Free After Court Reversal

Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged that Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil remain free after an appeals court reversed his release amid detention and deportation threats.
World news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Adelaide festival apologises to Randa Abdel-Fattah and invites her to participate in 2027 writers' week

Adelaide Festival Corporation issued an unreserved apology to Randa Abdel-Fattah and invited her to Adelaide Writers' Week 2027.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Reform UK politicians should be barred from speaking on campus, say 35% of students

The results show students' views on free issues tend to be nuanced and they sometimes seem contradictory. In particular, while the principle of free speech has stronger support from students than in the past, so do specific bans. While 35% said they would bar Reform politicians from speaking, that included 41% of those who said they voted for Reform in the 2024 general election.
UK politics
Television
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 month ago

Bill Maher Says 'Woke' Hollywood Snubbing Him at Emmys

Bill Maher attributes decades of Emmy losses to Hollywood backlash against his outspoken, non-woke views despite extensive nominations.
US politics
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

The Defense Department's Case Against Mark Kelly Is Even Dumber Than It Sounds

Hegseth's effort to punish Sen. Mark Kelly for urging troops to refuse illegal orders is legally baseless and likely to fail.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Lying ban for politicians in Wales prompts free speech fears

A proposed Welsh law would criminalise false or misleading election statements but contains broad powers risking free speech and lacks clear definitions and support.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Louise Adler resigns as director of Adelaide writers' week

I cannot be party to silencing writers, so with a heavy heart I am resigning from my role as the director of the AWW. Writers and writing matters, even when they are presenting ideas that discomfort and challenge us. We need writers now more than ever, as our media closes up, as our politicians grow daily more cowed by real power, as Australia grows more unjust and unequal.
Writing
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 month ago

Mark Kelly Announces He's Suing Defense Sec Pete Hegseth

Sen. Mark Kelly filed a civil lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for initiating an administrative action to cut Kelly's pension and strip his military rank.
US politics
fromAdvocate.com
1 month ago

Sen. Mark Kelly sues Pete Hegseth's Pentagon after Trump administration moved to punish him for his speech

Sen. Mark Kelly sued to block censure and retirement-grade review, alleging the administration weaponized the military to retaliate and threaten his rank, pension, and safety.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Former chancellor Nadim Zahawi defects to Reform UK

Nadim Zahawi has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, citing a "dark and dangerous" moment, free-speech concerns and tax burdens on earners.
[ Load more ]