US government accuses Germany of ‘significant human rights issues’
The US government has criticised Germany over restrictions on freedom of expression as well as a surge in antisemitic violence.
Free speech
Latest reporting and analysis on free speech.
US State Department targets ‘decline of UK free speech’
A newly released series of worldwide human rights reports by the US strongly criticised the United Kingdom over what it said was a troubling decline in free speech…
Gender-critical book pulled from Scottish National Library display after staff complaints
The National Library of Scotland (NLS) has withdrawn The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht -- meaning "stay quiet" -- a collection of gender-critical essays by prominent…
Chatbot Grok stirs confusion over suspension after Gaza claims
AI chatbot Grok on August 12 offered conflicting explanations for its brief suspension from X after accusing Israel and the United States of committing "genocide"…
Former EP candidate fined for heckling von der Leyen at rally in Finland
Helsinki District Court fined former European Parliament election candidate Armando Mema for heckling European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her…
Amnesty International blames Musk’s X for fuelling ‘UK Southport riots’ racist violence’
Amnesty International has accused social media giant X of playing a key role in the spread of "racist and Islamophobic narratives" that ignited violence following…
Irish news gadfly Gript to sue Press Council over allegedly ‘flawed ruling’
Irish Conservative news site and government gadfly Gript has announced it will take the Irish Press Council to court.
EU spends €1 million to fight online ‘hate speech’ in South Sudan
South Sudan has received €1 million from the European Union to combat "hate speech" online.
UK activist Tommy Robinson arrested for alleged assault
British police have arrested the political activist Tommy Robinson for an alleged assault on a man at St Pancras station.
Public prosecutor to appeal acquittal of German comedian over Trump assassination attempt ‘joke’
The Berlin public prosecutor’s office has said it would appeal the verdict in the controversial case of comedian Sebastian Hotz.
French MP slams Musk’s AI Grok for ‘spreading fake news’
French eco-socialist MP Aymeric Caron has accused Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok of being a “dangerous tool for misinformation” for falsely identifying an image…
UK ‘to monitor social media for signs of protests’, MP states
The UK Government is eyeing a new crackdown on social media to spot early signs of street protests, according to a letter from ruling Labour Party MP Dame Diana…
New UK Online Safety Act triggers digital content restrictions
The day after the UK’s Online Safety Act came into force, protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers were effectively erased from public view for youngsters…
Court rules German comedian’s tweets mocking assassination attempt on Trump ‘unpunishable satire’
The Berlin District Court has ruled that a social media post by comedian Sebastian Hotz about the assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump constituted…
‘AFP reporters face starvation’ in Gaza, warns journalists association
The Agence France Presse (AFP) association of journalists (SDJ) said reporters posted in Gaza working for the news agency were facing starvation due to food shortages…
Czech President signs law criminalising Communist propaganda
Czech President Petr Pavel signed a landmark amendment to the Criminal Code, criminalising the promotion of communist ideology, placing it on par with Nazi propaganda.
As the bodies of dead babies are dug up, innocent nuns are vilified
This week, the largest excavation of a burial site in Irish history began in Tuam, County Galway.
Member states inch closer to social media age-limit for minors
Italy, France, Denmark, Spain and Greece said they would pilot an online age verification app prototype developed by the European Commission, making it easier for…
German comedian to stand trial over online comments on Trump assassination attempt
Sebastian Hotz, a German comedian performing under the stage name “El Hotzo”, has to stand trial for a series of comments he made on social media after the assassination…
French first lady appeals in gender rumours case: lawyer
France's first lady has taken her case against two women over claims she used to be a man to the highest appeals court after a lower court let them off, her lawyer…
French appeals court clears two over first lady gender rumours
A French appeals court Thursday overturned convictions against two women accused of libel against French First Lady Brigitte Macron, after they spread false claims…
German court slaps down library ‘warning labels’ on ‘controversial books’
Germany’s Higher Administrative Court in Münster has ruled that the city library must remove politically charged warning labels from two controversial books.
Thank you, Elon: Conservatives owe Musk a lot
Elon Musk’s clash with Donald Trump has shaken conservatives. Yet, his defence of liberty and tradition remains unmatched.
French Socialist Party members denounce the term ‘Islamophobia’
Members of the French Socialist Party have revolted against use of the word "Islamophobia" in its formal documents because, they said, it "validates the theses of…
US lawmakers: ‘EC weaponising digital rules to muzzle US interests’
US lawmakers have accused the European Commission of weaponising its “regulatory regime” to “silence American speech” online.
German daycare centre bans kids from playing Indians
Children at the Fischbank daycare centre in Rostock on Germany's north coast were banned from playing as Indians due to so-called cultural sensitivities.
Patriots MEP’s office vandalised by ‘ultra-left’
Anne-Sophie Frigout, MEP for the French right-wing Patriots for Europe party, had had her office in Reims vandalised.
Want to exercise freedom of speech? Not when European lawfare cuts your throat
It’s no secret that Europe has a serious problem with free speech.
Politician behind Italian city’s cyberbullying initiatives exposed as Facebook bully
A councillor in northern Italy's city of Lecco resigned after she was revealed as the author of anonymous, abusive comments aimed at a resident who criticised the…
Free speech or incitement? Glastonbury punk and rap acts ignite political firestorm
Punk duo Bob Vylan and rap group Kneecap’s sets at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival have triggered criminal probes and a revoked US visa, amid accusations of hate…