Free speech in Britain is on life support| UnHerd
For members of the Brazilian Academy of Prison Letters, the case is about free speech: “After all, a prison sentence doesn’t strip the person from other fundamental rights.”| Global Voices
Päivi Räsänen, former Finnish Minister of the Interior, faces third court hearing after two previous unanimous acquittals Räsänen faces criminal charges for sharing her faith-based beliefs on marriage and sexuality, including on X in 2019 ADF International continues to coordinate Räsänen’s defence to protect everyone’s right to free speech HELSINKI (25 August 2025) – The […] The post BREAKING: ‘Hate Speech’ Case Over Bible Tweet Dragged Into 7th Year as Finnish Supr...| ADF International
State Department issues a further condemnation of Britain’s “egregious” buffer zones, warning of a “concerning departure” from shared UK-US values Birmingham Christian Isabel Vaughan-Spruce is back under investigation for silently praying near an abortion facility WASHINGTON, D.C. / LONDON (19 August 2025) – The United States has issued its strongest warning yet to the UK over so-called “buffer zones”, which have […] The post U.S. State Department Doubles Down on War...| ADF International
Amy Sherald, the historian Ibram X. Kendi and others personally attacked in the Trump administration’s list of reasons for why the president “is right about the Smithsonian” hit back| The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
The joint statement, which does not name Donald Trump, comes as the US president seeks to remake the Kennedy Center and dictate programming at the Smithsonian| The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
In late July CBC News reported that a Christian singer was to perform that week at the York Redoubt National Historic Site near Halifax. CBC’s Brett Ruskin got us up to speed. “Sean Feucht is a religious leader,” he told … Read the rest The post The Road to Censorship: How Canada Lost its Way on Freedom of Speech appeared first on C2C Journal.| C2C Journal
Ten years after its first edition and its author’s arrest, a book which adapts philosopher Gene Sharp’s work has a new edition. GV spoke with the author, Domingos da Cruz.| Global Voices
Despite their name, Omada Alithias, the so-called Truth Team, has done more to distort than defend the truth, reflecting the normalization of digital authoritarianism in democratic states.| Global Voices
"After six years of reporting in Hong Kong, and at eight months pregnant, I’m very sad to be leaving my colleagues, friends and the place I’ve called home."| Global Voices
The executive editing team addresses The Daily's participation in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's lawsuit to protect free speech. The post Letter from the Editors: On The Daily’s lawsuit with FIRE appeared first on The Stanford Daily.| The Stanford Daily
The Stanford Daily, Stanford University’s independently run student newspaper, and two of its student staff, are suing Marco Rubio, in his capacity as Secretary of State, and Kristi Noem, in her capacity as Secretary of Homeland Security, for violating their First Amendment rights. . The suit argues that the administration’s reliance on the Immigration and Nationality Act to censor and punish lawfully present noncitizens is unconstitutional. From the suit: Secretary of State Marco Rubio...| Daily Nous
Procurator Fiscal withdraws warning, confirms Rose Docherty will not be charged for offering consensual, peaceful conversation inside abortion “buffer zone” in Glasgow Docherty held a sign reading “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, if you want” – ADF International co-ordinated her legal defence https://adfinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/x-downloader.com_nDtvSF.mp4 GLASGOW (14 August 2025) – In a win for freedom […] The post Prosecutor Backs Down in Case Against S...| ADF International
New report notes “significant human rights issues” including criminal and civil laws which limit free expression Case of army veteran convicted for silent prayer highlighted as example of censorship crisis LONDON (13 August 2025) – A newly released U.S. State Department Human Rights Report has sounded the alarm over mounting restrictions on freedom of expression […] The post U.S. State Dept. Highlights Alarming Decline in Free Speech in the United Kingdom appeared first on ADF I...| ADF International
Crown Prosecution Service to advise on charging Isabel Vaughan-Spruce again for praying silently near abortion facility in Birmingham Charitable volunteer, who was cleared in court and received a payout from police for being unjustly arrested twice for her silent prayers, has been consistently praying in same location for twenty years Birmingham (10th August 2025) – […] The post Christian Arrested for Silent Prayer Back Under Investigation appeared first on ADF International.| ADF International
Delving deeper into these banned books, it is obvious that most of these provide self-explanatory reasons why they found a place in this ‘scroll of honour’| thefederal.com
Originally meant – and heavily marketed – as a low-cost, accessible means to protect the fundamental rights of individuals, Canada’s human rights commissions and tribunals have become a dangerous farce. Ruling on everything from workplace disputes to getting bumped from an airport lineup, they’ve degenerated into a means for the easily-offended to seek vengeance. That is when they’re not undermining the essential Charter-protected rights of all Canadians at the behest of aggrieved m...| C2C Journal
Finding the line between political activism and inciting hatred: A personal reflection. The post Glastonbury and the State of the UK appeared first on The Globalist.| The Globalist
テキサス州議員たちは、中絶に関する議論の芽を摘むだけでなく、既存の議論さえ見つけられないようにしようとしている。彼らの目標は中絶に関する情報をインターネットから完全に消し去ることにある。 The post テキサス州の「中絶戦争」が「インターネットの検閲戦争」へと拡大 first appeared on p2ptk[.]org.| p2ptk[.]org
米国下院は本日、TAKE IT DOWN法案を可決した。この法律により、権力者たちは単に気に入らないという理由だけで、合法的な発言をプラットフォームから削除させる危険な手段を新たに手にすることになる。 The post TAKE IT DOWN法、重大な欠陥を抱えたまま可決される first appeared on p2ptk[.]org.| p2ptk[.]org
「我々は壊滅的災害後も通信サービスへの弾圧を続け、市民の生命の危機を無視し続けるミャンマー軍の行為を断固として非難する」 The post ミャンマー軍事政権は壊滅的災害後も続くインターネット遮断・制限をただちに解除せよ first appeared on p2ptk[.]org.| p2ptk[.]org
セクション230の最大の受益者は小規模プラットフォームと一般ユーザである。 The post セクション230が守っているのは「ビッグテック」ではなく「普通のユーザの表現」である first appeared on p2ptk[.]org.| p2ptk[.]org
Last weekend, the Australian National Review hosted a free speech summit on the Gold Coast. Although I was unable to attend in person due to commitments in Canberra for the opening of the 48th Parliament, I expressed my strong support for all those standing in defence of free speech and national sovereignty. We answer to […]| Malcolm Roberts
I am presenting a paper on “Hate Speech – Vilification Laws and Threats to Freedom” this week, and a copy is available here to download for those interested. As well as comment on a number of other cases, there is some comment on the recent Wertheim v Haddad s 18C decision, and the litigation involving “Billboard … Continue reading Vilification laws and religious free speech| Law and Religion Australia
In the span of just five days, the British Parliament took two deeply troubling steps that threaten serious consequences for the legal protection of human life. On Tuesday, 17 June, Members of Parliament (MPs) voted 379 to 137 to decriminalise abortion — removing all criminal penalties for women who end their pregnancies at any stage. […]| ADF International
Investigative report by the House Judiciary Committee exposes Australian “eSafety Commissioner” Julie Inman-Grant's co-ordination with international bodies to censor lawful online speech| ADF International
Tribunal upholds speech rights of Canadian campaigner Chris “Billboard Chris” Elston, striking down a government order that censored his X post under the country’s Online Safety Act. Censored X post referred to controversial WHO “expert” appointee Teddy Cook by her biologically accurate pronouns. Censorship case, coordinated by ADF International and the Human Rights Law Alliance, […]| ADF International
Belgian police arrest Lois McLatchie Miller and Chris Elston, for peacefully displaying a sign that read: “Children are never born in the wrong body”| ADF International
Kavya Kapadia explores the politicised publication of Doctor Zhivago, the Cold War, and writing amidst governmental attempts to silence.| Cherwell
Ivett Berenyi explores the controversy surrounding Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, and the relationship between politics and art.| Cherwell
Fifteen years have passed since the Occupy Wall Street movement focused attention on the inequities and hazards of large Wall Street banks, particularly those risky banks with trillions of dollars in derivatives on their books. “Move your money” was the obvious response, but what could local governments do? Their bank accounts were too large for […]| WEB OF DEBT BLOG
"Censorship undermines democracy" writes State Department, following a challenge against the Australian eSafety Commissioner, who censored Canadian campaigner Billboard Chris for speaking out against gender ideology| ADF International
Back in the old days—the 1970s—when I worked in advertising and was tuned into the marketing tactics that captured the hearts and minds of consumers,| University Press of Kansas
From “non-crime hate incidents” to two-tier justice, the UK’s war on free speech deepens. As immigration surges, censorship and unrest grow.| C2C Journal
A high profile decision from the UK Supreme Court this week, For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16 (16 April 2025) (“FWS“), holds that the word “sex” as used in the UK anti-discrimination legislation the Equality Act 2010 (UK) (“the EA 2010”), means biological sex, and that the term does not … Continue reading The meaning of “sex” – in the UK and Australia| Law and Religion Australia
Recently there have been a number of legislative moves or proposals attempting to deal with issues around the area of “hate speech”. The term of course is problematic- we will try to unpack it shortly. But the context, in Australia at least, is the shocking rise in the number of anti-semitic slogans and actual violence … Continue reading “Hate speech” and religious freedom- recent developments in Australia| Law and Religion Australia
Lawrence Greenspon, defence attorney in the Freedom Convoy explains why freedom of expression must prevail in Canada’s justice system.| C2C Journal
In a case that has received global attention and reproach, Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident of the United States and recent graduate of Columbia University (another target of the Trump administration’s ire), was arrested on 8 March by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in front of his apartment in New York and subsequently transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana. In this blog post, my aim is to show that the case of Mr. Khalil implicates perhaps the most sacrosa...| Verfassungsblog
Free speech rights survived the Online Harms Act—for now. But Censorship in censorship threats remain. St. Thomas Aquinas could offer insight.| C2C Journal
Reviewing European Union’s disregard of essential rules in democratic governing | The Indicter
Helyeh Doutaghi was placed on leave by Yale Law School after being falsely accused of “terrorism” over her support for Palestine. She says her case reflects the new era of Zionist McCarthyism and that this repression reveals an empire in decline.| Mondoweiss
Freedom of the press is as much for ordinary citizens as journalists, so the law should not discriminate against ordinary citizens. The post Special privileges for journalists contrary to ‘freedom of press’ first appeared on Independence Institute. The post Special privileges for journalists contrary to ‘freedom of press’ appeared first on Independence Institute.| Independence Institute
To the non-sex worker community, Oscar night 2025 may have seemed like a triumph for those currently or formerly in the sex worker community. Anora — an indie flick about a sex worker who marries a Russian oligarch’s son and... Continue reading The post Sex Workers React to the Oscar Triumph of ‘Anora’ appeared first on Front Page Confidential.| Front Page Confidential
Street busking musicians are more help than nuisance to the police. It takes just one police constable to yank a few cords, cancel expression and remove vitality. Karnataka police recently prevented musician Ed Sheeran from busking on Bengaluru’s Church street. This incident is a reflection on how what is legal may not be legitimate, and […] The post What Else is a Street For, If Not to Perform appeared first on Spontaneous Order.| Spontaneous Order
"A university is special to the extent that it is a place where teaching and learning replace fighting and grandstanding." That's Agnes Callard (Chicago), writing at The Point. Are protests a good way to manifest political concern on college campuses? Do the purposes universities serve---or are supposed to serve---in society give us a reason to think| Daily Nous - news for & about the philosophy profession
Students and allies on university campuses across the USA (and increasingly on other campuses around the world) have been peacefully calling for action against the state of Israel over its genocidal actions in Gaza. In doing so, they have faced smears from establishment voices, egged on by war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu. They have also faced […]| Phoenix Media Co-operative
In its fifth year, Germany's nationwide engagement in Freedom of Expression Week hails disagreement as a benefit—not a barrier.| Publishing Perspectives
On Tuesday, President Trump pardoned convicted Silk Road founder, Ross Ulbricht. Will Trump consider the unjust plight of the #Backpage3?| Front Page Confidential
On January 12, Nurgeldi Halykov was not allowed to leave Turkmenistan and board a flight to Dubai where he was travelling on a work visa.| turkmen.news
Is spying constitutionally-protected "freedom of speech" or "freedom of the press" because it is conducted by an internet application?| Independence Institute - Think Freedom
As someone who has been studying social media countermeasures and the way cybercriminals evade them for several years now, I always find it fascinating when these companies openly discuss their str…| Joel Latto
January1, 2025 Well, it seems that the censors are out again in full force at 𝕏, formerly Twitter. Today I got the following message: Say what?? I’ve done my best to avoid breaking any r…| Skating Under The Ice
Prisoner Jackie is demure chaos. One half Peruvian, one half Mexican, Jackie’s parents produced a beautiful boy. But Jackie was not satisfied . . . she added breasts. Jackie is a trans cellmate who is also deaf and mute. Dealt... Continue reading The post Within the Barred Bunker: ‘Put Your Lips Together and Blow,’ by Michael Lacey appeared first on Front Page Confidential.| Front Page Confidential
Jesse Lopez wants to pull on my sleeve about Jesus. Jesse was a banger and a career criminal. Before his current parole violation — a minor matter — he did 10 years — a major matter. Today he stands, a... Continue reading The post Within the Barred Bunker: ‘What Sustains Thee,’ by Michael Lacey appeared first on Front Page Confidential.| Front Page Confidential
In a column written while imprisoned, veteran journalist Michael Lacey describes the events leading up to his heart attack behind bars.| Front Page Confidential
I went to prison after a 100-count trial alleging that six Village Voice Media defendants facilitated prostitution. I was found guilty of a single count of laundering money; i.e., placing assets in a European bank. The verdict is mysterious. FBI... Continue reading The post Within the Barred Bunker: Michael Lacey and the ‘Prison Spa’ Program appeared first on Front Page Confidential.| Front Page Confidential
It is to be a memorable day. As usual, we are waking at 4 a.m., a foolish and dark time of day. After breakfast, a group adjourns to the basketball court. It is my cellie’s 71st birthday, and he is... Continue reading The post Within the Barred Bunker: A New Prison Column by Michael Lacey, ‘A Memorable Day’ appeared first on Front Page Confidential.| Front Page Confidential
The following contains the analysis and opinions of the author. The author does not speak for the Backpage defendants. On Thursday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted journalist Michael Lacey’s release from prison pending the outcome of his... Continue reading The post Ninth Grants Lacey Bail Pending Appeal in Backpage Case, Denies It for Brunst, Spear appeared first on Front Page Confidential.| Front Page Confidential
Within the Barred Bunker We watched our friends grow up together And we saw them as they fell Some of them fell into heaven Some of them fell into hell — “A Rainy Night in Soho,” The Pogues I went... Continue reading| Front Page Confidential
“Nothing is built on stone; All is built on sand, but we must build as if the sand were stone.” Jorge Luis Borges Memory of another time, not so long ago, has washed away… I can not remember what my... Continue Reading →| Old Primary Head
| Rule of Law Education Centre
Attorneys for #Backpage3 defendant Scott Spear, filed an emergency motion with the court, claiming CoreCivic is denying Spear vital meds.| Front Page Confidential
Newspaperman Michael Lacey self-surrendered to U.S. Marshals in Phoenix on 9/11 and began serving a 5-year sentence for money-laundering.| Front Page Confidential
The recent online discussion on "freedom of speech" that has flared up after Pavel Durov's arrest has forced me to dig this topic out of the backlog. To be precise, "this topic" means the eternal conflict between two contradicting forces: (1) protection of free speech and (2) respect for the| No Kill Switch
Journalist and First Amendment advocate Michael Lacey was sentenced to 5 years in prison for his onetime co-ownership of Backpage.com.| Front Page Confidential
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is no friend to pregnancy resource centers (PRCs), as demonstrated by Governor Healey’s recent smear campaign on the so-called “Dangers of Anti-Abortion Centers.” Attacks against charitable PRCs have included vandalism, censorship, threatening physician licenses, and even falsifying official complaints. PRCs in Massachusetts have endured constant opposition from the State and local| MFI | Massachusetts Family Institute - Massachusetts Family Institute | Faith...
In a sentencing memo filed Monday, the government slandered journalist Michael Lacey, asking the judge to sentence him to 20 years in prison.| Front Page Confidential
An excellent and concise explanation of why the First Amendment, and freedom of speech more broadly and more generally, matters to me: Much of the Court’s opinion is devoted to deprecating th…| Where's Walden?
As OfS publishes new regulatory requirements on harassment and sexual misconduct, Anna Bull considers what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for the sector| Wonkhe
A Scottish ancient has "discharged" its Rector following a controversy over comments made on the Middle East. Jim Dickinson weighs up the reputational damage| Wonkhe
In New York, Reason previews its new Backpage doc, featuring interviews with the late Jim Larkin and his fellow newspaperman, Michael Lacey.| Front Page Confidential
In a 2016 election-year stunt, then-Cali Attorney General Kamala Harris falsely arrested ex-Backpage owners Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin.| Front Page Confidential
Cloudflare launched nearly twelve years ago. Over that time, our set of services has become much more complicated. With that complexity we have developed policies around how we handle abuse of different features Cloudflare provides| The Cloudflare Blog
Michael Lacey's sentencing in the Backpage case is delayed till Aug. 27. Prosecutors want him sentenced for crimes he's not been charged with.| Front Page Confidential
Atelophobia is an extreme fear of imperfection. Someone with this disorder may be terrified of making mistakes, or go to great lengths to avoid new situations because they can’t guarantee tha…| Old Primary Head
Serving our communities shouldn’t feel like a life sentence. I spoke to an ex colleague last week. Asking how they were getting on in their second year of headship. I knew them well and had helped …| Old Primary Head
During a May 13 hearing in Phoenix's federal court, a judgw rescheduled journalist Michael Lacey's sentencing date to July 9.| Front Page Confidential
Recently, I faced the fact that I had failed at something – quite publicly and dramatically – and it really hurt. I had a role of responsibility and I could not do it as I believed others fel…| Old Primary Head
On Tuesday, a federal judge acquitted journalist Michael Lacey on 50 of the 84 counts on which his 2024 jury returned no verdict.| Front Page Confidential
CONTENT WARNING – Once again – this is a ramble – this topic is huge and I start to hit on issues that I could spend thousands of hours on (And still get nowhere!). That’s not the purpose of …| Old Primary Head
On Monday, federal Judge Diane Humetewa set a sentencing date for journalist Michael Lacey and two former execs in the Backpage travesty.| Front Page Confidential
This morning, Judge Humetewa set a tentative date for the retrial of journalist Michael Lacey on 84 hung counts from the Backpage trial.| Front Page Confidential
Popular bloggers in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) might soon have to display their real names on the front page of their social media accounts. PRC authorities are allegedly planning to implement a “self-media real name system” (自媒体实名制), Hong Kong-based news outlet HK01 reported on October 16. “Self-media” is a term referring to independent […]| The Greater China Journal
The U.S. Attorney's Office for Arizona has informed Judge Humetewa that it will retry veteran journalist Michael Lacey on 84 hung counts.| Front Page Confidential
One of my three journalist mentors, John Pilger, died December 30, 2023, of pulmonary fibrosis. I first knew of his work when he covered the US’s aggressive dirty war (with Australia’s active support) against Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos when I was an anti-war activist in the United States. As Jeremy Corbyn wrote about him, “John gave a voice … Continue reading "John Pilger: A Giant Muckraker Dies at 84"| This Can't Be Happening!
I am, like many, not a fan of Just Stop Oil. I find myself thinking, why? Why do that? I sometimes wonder how I would have reacted to the suffragette movement if I had lived in that time? I imagine…| Old Primary Head
After the prosecution rested its case Oct. 20, defense attorneys in the Backpage trial moved for acquittal.| Front Page Confidential
[UPDATE: Whoops, Jonathan beat me to it; I’m turning off comments, so people can post on that thread instead.] So holds Autor v. Pritzker (D.C. Cir. Jan. 17, 2014), a very interesting D.C. Circuit decision just handed down today. (Congratulates to my Mayer Brown LLP colleagues Charles Rothfeld and Joseph Minta, who represent the plaintiffs.) […]| The Volokh Conspiracy
So holds today’s Obsidian Finance Group v. Cox (9th Cir. Jan. 17, 2014) (in which I represented the defendant). To be precise, the Ninth Circuit concludes that all who speak to the public, whether or not they are members of the institutional press, are equally protected by the First Amendment. To quote the court, The […]| The Volokh Conspiracy
This past weekend, my family and I joined a half million people in Washington, D.C. for the Women's March. I was there first and foremost for my daughter. I wanted her to see the power that women can manifest. And I wanted her to see men supporting women who were manifesting that power. I wanted her to see what democracy looks like -- and what better place than in Washington D.C.?!| The Allergic Pagan
For reasons that will soon become apparent, I got to thinking about the verb “dehumanize”. I realized I didn’t know what it meant. So, I turned to the dictionary. Here’s Mer…| Skating Under The Ice
The rise of wokeness, ESG, the trans mania, etc. is all due to women’s new power in institutions| thoughtsofstone.github.io
A quick summary for those coming to this for the first time.| thoughtsofstone.github.io
