Meloni responds sharply to Von der Leyen on freedom of expression in Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been quick to respond to the rule-of-law report published by the European Commission, which accused her of eroding freedom…
Free speech
Latest reporting and analysis on free speech.
German State police set to reveal suspects’ nationalities
A new ruling means that police statements in the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia will soon have to reveal the nationality of suspects - regardless of whether…
Polish TV presenter suspended for describing Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ as ‘Communist’
Polish TVP presenter Przemysław Babiarz has been suspended after saying John Lennon’s song Imagine carried a “Communist” message.
German magazine Compact files lawsuit against government over ban
Controversial right-wing German magazine Compact a has filed a lawsuit with the country's Federal Administrative Court against a ban.
Weimers demands MEP Strik be punished for ‘racist’ jibe
"Her intervention is completely inexcusable.
German army recruits thousands of minors
In the past five years, the German army, the Bundeswehr, has recruited a total of 7,681 people younger than 18, which the hard-left Die Linke party described as…
US radio journalist jailed in Russia for ‘spreading false information’
A Russian court has sentenced Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist for US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), to six-and-a-half years in prison…
TikTok Lite ‘fails to protect users’, claims Mozilla and AI Forensics report
A report by the Mozilla Foundation and AI Forensics has pointed out what they said was a lack of security features in the version of social media giant TikTok Lite…
France rejects thousands of applications for Olympics jobs
France has rejected thousands of applications for Paris 2024 Olympic Games accreditations over security concerns including the presence of Russian journalists.
German citizen ‘sentenced to death in Belarus’
A German man, Rico Krieger, has been sentenced to death in Belarus. The 29-year-old is accused of crimes including terrorism and "mercenary activity".
Leading German journalist union says AfD should be shunned
The German Journalists' Association (DJV), one of Europe's largest journalists' organisations, has come out against the hard Right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)…
IN DEPTH: Trump VP pick Vance holds hawkish stance on Europe
US presidential hopeful Donald Trump's candidate for Vice President, Senator JD Vance, has a hawkish history of dealing with the European Union, frequently criticising…
Nine out of 10 EU Jews experience anti-Semitism, says EU study
Nine out of ten Jews in the European Union have experienced anti-Semitism and most worry for their own safety, according to a new study.
Police open hundreds of hate-speech investigations over German ‘meme anthem’
German police forces have launched more than 360 investigations into instances of suspected hate-speech over the playing or singing of a German meme "anthem".
Italy and Greece go after free speech: authorities prosecute dissidents
A few months ago Brussels Signal warned that the freedom of speech and expression in the European Union would be endangered by the European Parliament’s resolution…
Allegations of priest’s torture in custody outrage Poland
The priest claims he had been denied food for almost 60 hours, was forced to beg for water, and was ordered to urinate in a bottle when he requested to use the toilet.
Slovakia to restrict right to assembly in response to Fico assassination attempt
The Slovak parliament on June 27 approved a so-called “Lex Assassination”, a package of measures designed to improve security following the assassination attempt…
Russia bans distribution of dozens of EU news outlets in retaliatory step
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it was banning access inside Russia to the broadcasts of dozens of European Union media outlets in what it said was…
Slovak opposition boycotts vote that sees public broadcaster shut down
The Slovak opposition walked out of the parliament chamber en masse before a vote was taken to abolish Rozhlas a televíža Slovenska (RTVS) and replace it with…
EU ‘chat-control’ plan goes back to drawing board
A controversial bill giving the European Union digital powers including the ability to look into citizens’ private online chats will not now be voted on.
Brussels city decision to cancel Belgium-Israel football match sparks controversy
Brussels's local government will not host an upcoming international football match between Belgium and Israel.
German fined €6,000 for ‘violating honour’ of Greens politicians
A German man has been fined €6,000 for insulting The Greens party politicians in his home country.
EU could use Euro 2024 football contest to implement online spying rules, MEP warns
The European Union could use the cover of the Euro 2024 football tournament to force through a suite of online spying rules, an MEP has warned.
Online porn giants ordered to provide EC with DSA conformity details
The European Commission has demanded details from porn websites over their adherence to the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Nova24 chief blasts Brussels for ignoring attacks on Slovenian media
"Věra Jourová, I don't know how she is sleeping at night, with these double standards," he said.
German authorities raid 70 homes over ‘online hate posting’
Police have raided more than 70 homes in Germany concerning incidents of so-called "online hate posting", the country's justice ministry said.
NGOs vow to defy Georgia’s Foreign Agent law amid Brussels threats
Around 200 NGOs in Georgia said they would defy the country’s new Foreign Agent legislation amid threats from Brussels that the law could "harm Georgia's EU aspirations”.
Slovenian police raid Nova24 media days before European Parliament elections
Opposition MEP Milan Zver said the raid represented a "severe breach of independence" of the media as well as a "political misuse of the police”.
EU to consider banning anonymity online and MEPs from using ‘hate speech’
The European Union is to consider implementing a de facto ban on online anonymity, as well as prohibiting elected MEPs from using so-called "hate speech".
France bans TikTok in New Caledonia amid ‘foreign interference’ claims
Authorities say that the unprecedented move is an attempt to curb ongoing violence on the overseas French territory, with pro-independence protesters having seized…