Post-Gaza, wokery on American campuses is at last being challenged. But the cure might make matters worse
“In this world,” the old Benjamin Franklin adage goes, “nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
Make no mistake: The EU’s war on X is a war on free speech
After months of potshots, the EU's war with Twitter / X has now officially begun.
Breton announces EC investigation into Musk’s X
Among the accusations of wrongdoing, the body attacked X for its alleged failure to censor "illegal content" relating to the Israel-Hamas war.
Hey Rishi, leave those kids alone: The British Prime Minister’s proposed ban on under 16s accessing social media shows how the UK is squandering its Brexit freedoms
In his desperation for any good news and for something, anything, to shift his dial of misery the UK Prime Minister is chucking policies at the wall like an amateur…
‘Rogue actors’ could exploit new EU media freedom law, industry group says
“Rogue actors” will be able to exploit the European Union's newly agreed media European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), an industry group has claimed.
Norwegian university chief resigns after targeting her pro-nuclear researchers
Anne Borg, Principal of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), has resigned after it came to light she publicly derided two of her researchers,…
Poland violated rights of woman who wanted abortion, ECHR rules
Poland violated the rights of a pregnant woman by interfering in her ability to get an abortion, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled.
Octopuses are not for farming: For once, we need more action from the European Commission to protect these smart creatures
The European Commission has disclosed it will not protect octopus species under European law.
Berlin lowers local voting age to 16
Berlin's local government has lowered the voting age for its regional elections to 16 years.
‘Christmas present’ for Tusk: EC unlocks €111 billion in frozen Polish funds
In accepting what he called a "Christmas gift" from the EC, Tusk said Poland would rebuild democratic institutions and play a more active role in Europe
As Hanukkah ends, local governments look to combat antisemitism
On the evening of December 15, as the sun sets early, many Jewish Europeans mark the last day of Hanukkah.
Parties unite to push for Frisian language
Friesland, Netherlands. The Dutch government is not the only body that is set for renewal this winter.
Bulgaria dismantles monumental reminder of Soviet Army
Bulgaria has started taking down a 45-metre monument to the Soviet Union's army that had dominated the skyline of Sofia for almost 70 years.
MEPs scupper ‘geo-blocking’ film and TV streaming crackdown in last-minute reversal
MEPs have shot down a proposed ban on “geo-blocking” film and television programmes within the European Union at the last minute, voting through an amendment…
Expats falling out of love with Brussels
Brussels has a growing number of problems and is less and less popular among expats, according to surveys
Dinant: so compact and convenient you could almost fit it in your pocket
Dinant, Belgium. OK, even though Dinant is one of the most beautiful small towns in Belgium, admittedly it isn’t quite that small to fit in a pocket.
You’re a fraud, honey! European Parliament cereal killers come after breakfast
The cereal regulators sitting in the European Parliament have voted in favour of tighter restrictions on breakfast foodstuffs.
Polish far-right firebrand MP expelled from Parliament after dousing Hanukkah candles with extinguisher
Polish Confederation party MP Grzegorz Braun caused outrage in Parliament by taking a fire extinguisher off the wall and using it to snuff out Hanukkah candles,…
Why is Airbnb so at home with new Brussels regulations?
While many industries would rather Brussels keep its hands off their affairs, US-based rental platform Airbnb has raised eyebrows by celebrating its own European…
President of Veneto, Italy, supports foundation to fight femicide
Veneto, Italy Luca Zaia, President of Veneto region has said that his region is ready to support a foundation to combat femicide.
Push against geo-blocking ‘will hammer Europe’s entertainment industry’, sector warns
Attempts to ban the “geo-blocking” of audio-visual content within the European Union will hurt the bloc's entertainment industry, that sector has warned.
EXPLAINER: What Ukraine needs to do to keep its EU membership bid alive
The European Union's 27 leaders could decide at a summit this week whether to launch formal membership talks with Ukraine, a step that would provide a much-needed…
Is the short-lived Morawiecki government undemocratic?
On Monday November 27, Polish President Andrzej Duda appointed a new government led by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, expected to last only until Monday (December…
Pirates’ MEPs pull support for EU Digital ID plan over ‘mass surveillance’ fears
"Over-identification will gradually erode our right to use digital services anonymously. Mark Zuckerberg should have no right to see our ID!"
AfD in Saxony classified as ‘extremist’
The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution Saxony (SOPCS) has designated the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party an “extremist”…
EU watchdog demands ban on Facebook and Instagram ‘behavioural advertising’
The European Union's data protection watchdog has demanded Facebook and Instagram owner Meta be banned from processing user data for “behavioural advertising”.
Spain’s Puigdemont locks horns with EU’s Borrell again, this time over ‘sexist speech’
Spanish Junts leader Carles Puigdemont has grilled the European Commission on "sexist speech" by Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat.
No backbone? No protection: Octopuses left high and dry under EU law
Octopus species are not protected under animal welfare rights in European Union law, the European Commission has confirmed.
Reliving the Odyssey among Greece’s vast island network
Few people appreciate just how enormous Greece’s network of islands is.
EU’s draft free-speech law ‘too weak’, say lawyers and journalists
The European Union's proposed free-speech legislation is "too weak" and does not reflect legal reality, lawyers and media professionals have told Brussels Signal.