The decline of liberty
Never was there more high-minded talk about republican ideals in ancient Rome than in the age of Augustus, the first de facto emperor who definitively buried the…
Free speech
Latest reporting and analysis on free speech.
‘Child porn found in cell’ of notorious Belgian paedophile and killer
Images depicting the sexual abuse of minors were reportedly found in the prison cell of Marc Dutroux, the infamous convicted Belgian paedophile and serial killer.
Turkey to introduce mandatory ID verification for social media users
Turkish users of Facebook and X may soon be forced to sign up using their official government ID.
Mélenchon wants French media conglomerates to be broken up or seized
Jean Luc Mélenchon, leader of radical left La France Insoumise (LFI), announced today at the party press conference that, if LFI wins the 2027 presidential election,…
‘Regulate platforms, not children’: Council of Europe criticises ban on social media for teens
Going against several European Union countries' moves to ban social media for teenagers, the Council of Europe criticised a possible blanket ban on social media,…
German police launch investigation against pensioner for calling Chancellor Merz ‘Pinocchio’ online
The police in Heilbronn in Southwestern Germany have launched an investigation against a pensioner who referred to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as “Pinocchio”…
Frenchman charged over alleged abuse of 89 boys in several countries
A 79-year-old Frenchman once known locally as “Monsieur Jacques” in Moroccan communities, has been charged with the rape and sexual assault of at least 89 teenage…
US to host website to help users circumvent EU-style content bans
The US is reportedly planning a new digital tool to help users bypass local content bans, allowing people worldwide to continue to watch banned content.
Sexual assault allegations and cover-up claims target top Spanish cop
A high-profile sexual assault investigation targeting one of Spain's top police officials has ignited a political firestorm, with opposition parties accusing the…
German superior court says speaking ban for AfD leader was unlawful
The Bavarian Administrative Court has decided that two German towns were wrong to issue speaking bans for a leading representative of the right-wing Alternative…
Polish FM Sikorski accuses US of trying to impose its values on Europe
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski has slammed the present US administration for attempting to impose its values on Europe.
German town issues speaking ban for AfD leader ahead of party convention
A small town in Bavaria has banned Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician Björn Höcke from speaking in public at a local party convention tomorrow.
Polish nationalist politician indicted for allegedly inciting murder of PM Tusk
A Polish nationalist activist connected with the opposition Conservatives (PiS) has been indicted for incitement to murder Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and…
US mulls visa bans and stripping immunity from EU officials enforcing censorship via the DSA
Prominent US Republicans are considering legislation to strip sovereign immunity from European Union officials enforcing content moderation rules under the Digital…
Social media bans for youngsters spread across the EU
Austria is set to join other European Union countries in banning young people from accessing social media.
What do Spaniards think of Sánchez’s youth social media clampdown?
On February 4, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced he would propose legislation to ban social media use by those under the age of 16.
Top Italian comedian withdraws from Sanremo Festival amid free speech controversy
The debate over freedom of expression in Italy has been reignited after a top Italian comedian decided to withdraw from the Sanremo Music Festival.
Telegram founder Durov warns ‘total control’ regulations threaten Spanish internet freedoms
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has issued a direct warning to millions of users in Spain, describing its government’s latest social-media proposals as “dangerous new…
VPN firm Proton says countries using internet blackouts to boost censorship
As countries step up their use of internet shutdowns to muzzle dissent, some are also taking advantage of blackouts to increase censorship firewalls, internet privacy…
Polish Government security officer taped ‘making death threats against journalist’
In Poland, an officer with the State Protection Service (SOP) responsible for the safety of state officials, allegedly made death threats against a journalist with…
Chile’s new President Kast warns free speech is under threat
Chile’s newly elected President, José Antonio Kast, said society is suffering from an overabundance of “isms” that are eroding long-standing values — a…
US Republicans slam EC and ‘censorious’ online law after X fine
The US House Judiciary Committee Republicans have ramped up their blistering assault on the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), exposing what they call…
MCC Brussels wins landmark free-speech court battle
The Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) Brussels, a leading conservative educational and think-tank organisation associated with Hungary's Government, has won its final…
Russia jails schoolgirl for four years for posters of pro-Kyiv fighters
A Russian court Thursday upheld a four-year prison term for a 17-year-old girl who hung posters of pro-Ukraine Russian fighters in her school, Russian independent…
MEPs want independent EU social media to counter X after Grok scandal
European lawmakers are demanding the creation of a European Union social media source to counter the influence of X following the Grok scandal.
UK, France mull social media bans for youth as debate rages
Countries including France and Britain are considering following Australia's lead by banning children and some teenagers from using social media, but experts are…
Berlin court acquits left-winger activist who forged AfD letters
A German left-winger who faked and sent out letters purportedly written by right-wing opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD) had been acquitted by a court…
UPDATED: European court orders Slovenia to pay damages to magazine over Goebbels jibe
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Slovenia to pay more than €15,000 in costs and damages to leftist magazine Mladina.
UK investigates X and contemplates ban, US pushes back
The UK regulator for communications, Ofcom, has launched a formal investigation into X following reports that the US Grok AI chatbot account on the platform was…
Polish President vetoes government’s attempt to implement EU’s digital regime
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki has vetoed legislation passed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government that sought to implement the European Union’s Digital…