Facebook Censorship Proposed Down Under
Australia targets "hate speech" in social media
Free Speech
Teddy Bear Controvery Leads to Reprimand of Belarus
EU governments agree to reprimand Minsk for expelling Swedish ambassador over democracy-promoting stunt.
Metaphor Is Not a Crime
Occupy protestor arrested for bank robbery for holding sign outside bank warning customers they were (figuratively) being robbed.
Two Arrested in Belarus for Teddy Bear Coverage
Journalists posed with toys, air-dropped on nation to promote freedom.
Rights Group Warns UC President Not to Restrict Free Speech
Fact-finding team encouraging prohibitions against "hate speech" on campuses.
Pussy Riot Verdict Expected on Aug 17
State prosecutors want the band members imprisoned for three years.
An Ideological Test for Gun Ownership
The next logical step in the effort to keep dangerous people from buying firearms
"Like" Is Free Speech, Court Told
ACLU and Facebook challenge judge's ruling that "liking" something online is not an act of free expression
Buck-Passing At Facebook
The Advertising Standards Board has ruled that businesses are responsible for comments on their Facebook pages.
Ban on "F*** the Tax" T-Shirt Upheld
Man who wore the shirt to a Board of Supervisors meeting has lost his most recent appeal.
Free Speech Zones for Dead Troops: Westboro Nuts Inspire Federal Legislation
President Barack Obama signs legislation to restrict protests at military funerals. The rest of us will just have to manage.
Law Limits Protests at Military Funerals
In a move aimed at the camera-hungry Westboro Baptist Church, President Obama signed a constitutionally iffy law restricting protests at funerals of service members
Pussy Riot Trial "Medieval" Says Tycoon
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the tycoon jailed for largely political reasons, says the punk rock activists face the equivalent of a medieval inquisition
Aussie Pol Attacked for Supporting Free Speech
Opposition leader Tony Abbott wants to ditch "hate speech" laws on free speech grounds, but the Australian government disagrees
Students Need Free Speech Guidance
Modern technology gives public exposure and potential liability to off-the-cuff comments
"Hate Speech" Targeted at University of California
A wide range of controversial expression would be banned in response to protests aimed at Israel
Malaysian Trial Opens over "Un-Islamic" Book
Woman faces two-year term over book considered offensive to Islam
Madonna Asks for Leniency for Pussy Riot
"I'm against censorship, so I hope that the judge is lenient with them and that they are freed soon," she said.
Westboro Baptist Church Pleased with Sikh Shooting
Fred Phelps tweets: "beautiful work of an angry God who told Wisconsin to keep their filthy hands off his people".
The New York Police Department Declares Open Season on the First Amendment
A new report highlights the full extent of the NYPD's efforts to suppress political speech during the Occupy Wall Street protests.
Texting Can Be Obscene, Says Judge
Texting counts as publishing for the purpose of obscenity laws, according to a British court
Lovely Rita, That B***h of a Meter Maid
Michigan's high court tossed a law that had criminalized yelling at meter maids and other university officials
Judge To Hear Challenge of Guantanamo Censorship
Government control over information regarding torture of defendants is at stake
Social-Media Censorship Call from Nigerian Pol
The country's third-ranking politician frets that Tweets and online media are beyond the reach of bribes and coercion
Jon Stewart No Fan of Chicken Ban
The prominent comedian suggests that banning businesses because of their owners' political views might be constitutionally iffy
Putin on Pussy Riot
Perhaps offering a ray of hope to the protesting punk rockers, Russia's president cautioned against judging them harshly
Company Dinged for Protesting Land Grab
When Norfolk, Virginia's Central Radio Company put up a banner to protest being targeted for eminent domain, the company was hit for a sign code violation
Russia Fascinated with Pussy Riot Trial Drama
"This is better than going to the theatre!" one member of the audience exclaimed.
None of Your Facebook Friends Are Real
The social media company says there are more fake accounts in its system than it previous acknowledged.
British Musicians Pen Support for Pussy Riot
Pete Townshend, Pet Shop Boys, others call charges "preposterous."
Death of a Meme: Pepper Spray Cop No Longer at UC Davis
Lt. John Pike no longer at university. Circumstances of departure unreleased.
Massachusetts Calls For Citizens United to be Overruled
State legislators have signed a resolution that calls for a constitutional amendment be passed to overturn the controversial ruling.
Bye Bye Free Speech Ghettos?
Under constitutional challenge, San Francisco may kill its policy of confining free expression to designated areas of city parks
No Love for Sexual Ratings Facebook Page
Josh Turner, who created a Facebook page rating the sexual performance of people in his Australian town, was given a suspended sentence for publishing "objectionable material."
Bust Over Flipped Bird Challenged in Court
Robert Bele says his raised middle finger at New York City cops was a "private laugh" and an act of free speech, not a violation of the law.
Russian Church Official: God Wants to Punish Pussy Riot, Not Us
Nevertheless, he encourages church and state growing closer.
British Teenager Arrested For Tweet
The seventeen year old boy was arrested after mocking British diver Tom Daley after his disappointing Olympic performance.
Street Art Removed From London During Olympics
Street artists say 'Beijing was more open-minded'.
Uzbekistan Detains Two Journalists for Taking Photos of Market
The two reporters were arrested for "pursuing a strategic goal".
Russian Anti-Corruption Blogger Charged
Alexei Navalny, who has been charged with theft, faces a long prison sentence and is banned from leaving Russia.
