Blog

German chancellor echoes the frequent — and illiberal — call to end online anonymity

February 20, 2026

Online anonymity is vital to free speech in Germany. And the United States.

Analysis

Ruling on Palestine Action ban casts even more doubt on UK’s troubling mass arrests of peaceful protesters

February 19, 2026

A UK court says banning the group Palestine Action was unlawful — after more than 2,700 arrests — but the ban remains pending appeal. So for now, supporting the group is essentially Schrödinger’s speech crime.

Analysis

Spain considers banning teens from social media and holding tech executives criminally responsible for ‘hate speech’

February 11, 2026

Spain eyes jailing tech CEOs and banning teens from social media as global crackdowns on speech grow — from Hong Kong to Pakistan and the UK.

Analysis

Facing mass protests, Iran relies on familiar tools of state violence and internet blackouts

January 28, 2026

From Iran’s internet blackouts to Australia’s expanding hate laws, governments worldwide are tightening control over speech and dissent.

Op-Ed

Online speech is powerful. That’s why Iran is silencing it.

January 14, 2026

Iran is killing protesters and cutting the internet to hide it. Censorship spreads globally—and democracies are flirting with dangerous tools.

Analysis

Repression deepens in Hong Kong with Jimmy Lai’s guilty verdict and censorship over deadly Wang Fuk Court fire

December 17, 2025

Hong Kong jails Jimmy Lai, UK prosecutors seek to reverse a free speech victory, and a new U.S. border policy could export self-censorship worldwide.

Analysis

UK university censors human rights research on abuses in China

November 18, 2025

China-related censorship ripples worldwide, from UK academia to NYC film screens — plus fresh crackdowns, bold resistance, and rare wins for free expression.

Analysis

High-profile comedians paid handsomely to not offend Saudi royals at Riyadh comedy fest

October 22, 2025

From Saudi censorship and UK arrests to China’s digital clampdown, free speech faces global pressure — and some unexpected twists.

Analysis

Quebec is threatening to outlaw public prayer

September 24, 2025

Quebec eyes a possible ban on public prayer as UK arrests surge in this week's global roundup of free speech crackdowns and rare wins.

Analysis

Chinese officials force censorship of Thai gallery’s art exhibit about authoritarianism (proving the exhibit’s point)

August 25, 2025

China censors Thai art show on authoritarianism, Hong Kong cites U.S. crackdowns to justify jailing Jimmy Lai, and T-shirts get people in trouble in Venezuela and Morocco