Schools in Belgium torched after sex-education lessons introduced
Five schools have been set on fire in Belgium amid anger over newly implemented relational, emotional and sex education for children.
Free speech
Latest reporting and analysis on free speech.
German journalist says he will stop criticising Islam after spate of threats
A high-profile journalist in Germany has announced that he no longer intends to discuss or criticise Islam after a recent spate of threats levelled against him.
Ability to shut down undesirable social media is ‘proportionate’, EC insists
The European Union's power to unilaterally shut down certain social media websites deemed problematic is "proportionate", the European Commission has insisted.
Sweden Democrats MEP invites Iranian artist to Brussels after exhibition ban U-turn
Sweden Democrats MEP Charlie Weimers has invited the Iranian artist Sadaf Ahmadi to the European Parliament after the Swedish city of Borås cancelled her exhibition,…
European Parliament to debate ‘controversial’ kiss in Women’s World Cup
The European Parliament has added the “controversial” kiss at the FIFA Women's Football World Cup Final on August 20 to its list of items to be debated at Strasbourg's…
Islamic institutions in Belgium oppose sex-education programme in schools
With the new school year back in full swing, all students in the French-speaking community in Belgium will now regularly receive relational, emotional and sex education.
Riots erupt in Sweden’s third-largest city after another Quran burning
Rioting has erupted in the Swedish city of Malmö after Iraqi migrant Salwan Momika once again publicly torched a copy of the Quran.
Ireland says free speech must be balanced with right ‘not to be misinformed’
Citizens’ rights to free speech must be balanced with their alleged right "not to be misinformed", a senior member of the Irish judiciary has said.
Polish journalist ‘denied life-saving medication’ in Belarusian jail
Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist for Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza and a Polish minority activist, is being denied life-saving heart medication in a Belarusian prison,…
Irish PM berates ‘showboating’ Elon Musk as online censorship row intensifies
Ireland's Prime Minister has accused US billionaire and owner of Twitter, now X, Elon Musk of "showboating" with his threats to challenge the country's coming anti-hate-speech…
X to launch legal challenge against Irish anti-hate-speech laws, Musk says
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, will launch a legal challenge against forthcoming anti-hate-speech laws in Ireland, its US billionaire owner…
Controversial French rapper Médine no longer welcome at Belgian festival
While the controversial rapper Médine is set to appear at a meeting of the French Greens party, a Belgian festival has cancelled his show over the weekend of August…
Facebook and Instagram announce changes over EU censorship legislation
Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has announced changes to its social media platforms in response to new European Union censorship laws coming into force.
Meta’s fact-checkers caught interfering in Australian referendum
Facebook’s parent company Meta blocked and deplatformed a number of people in Australia by using false fact-checks - in violation of its own code of principles.
Discord in Italy’s government after General replaced over controversial book
There is discord in Italy's centre-right government coalition after a leading Italian army general was replaced in his role for publishing a controversial book.
Twitter allegedly ‘shadow-bans’ Belgian party leader ahead of new EU digital law
Elon Musk's Twitter, now X, has been accused of limiting the visibility of a Twitter account, known as "shadow banning", belonging to Tom Van Grieken, the leader…
Anti-Quran protests spread to the Netherlands
The leader of the Pegida-movement in the Netherlands has publicly ripped to shreds a copy of the Quran as a form of protest in The Hague, angering local Muslims.
Ukraine considers porn law overhaul
Ukraine is considering the decriminalisation of pornography.
Italian general sacked after his controversial book causes uproar
A senior Italian general has been sacked after his controversial book caused uproar in the country.
Sweden raises terror alert to second-highest level
Sweden's security service SAPO has put the terrorist-threat level against the nation at 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 over rising tensions following a series of Quran burnings…
Irish Times says ‘block web access for teens critical of trans agenda’
The Irish Times, regarded as Ireland's newspaper of record, has suggested that teenagers deemed to not be sufficiently pro-trans may need to have their access to…
Irish hate-speech plans spook politicians after autistic girl’s UK arrest
Ireland's planned anti-hate-speech laws have reportedly left politicians in the country spooked after the arrest of an autistic girl in the UK.
Russian cinemas run pirated versions of ‘Barbie’ amid sanctions
Cinemas in Russia have resorted to running pirated copies of the hit film Barbie amid ongoing sanctions imposed by the West, news outlets in the country have claimed.
European Commission condemns South African party leader’s ‘Kill the Boer’ chant
Local Marxist firebrand Julius Malema was earlier this month filmed taking part in a chant that allegedly calls for the shooting of Boers, the country's 17th century…
Mainstream media voice concern over Covid variant ‘Eris’
Numerous mainstream media outlets across Europe are running articles discussing the dangers posed by “Eris”, a new Covid-19 variant named after the Greek goddess…
Bacon of hope! Twitter ‘ordered to censor account’ mocking German foreign minister
Officials working for Annalena Baerbock, Germany's progressive foreign minister, reportedly told Twitter in July to censor an account mocking her.
TikTok announces ‘hate-speech’ censorship plan to pacify the EU
Chinese social media platform TikTok has announced plans aimed at censoring so-called "hate speech" on its platform in an effort to appease the European Union.
Niger cuts off French media after coup d’état
With the military taking power in Niger, anti-French sentiment in the country is growing; the new regime has interfered with French media broadcasting in the country.
Irish hate-speech bill must be ‘halted’, party youth branches demand
Ireland's forthcoming anti-hate-speech bill must be "halted with immediate effect", the youth wing of one of the country's ruling parties stated.
Banning Quran-burnings would not impede free speech, Danish PM claims
A Danish Government ban on Quran-burning protests would not represent any kind of assault on freedom of speech, the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen,…