#FreeExpression Seen as Important Globally, but Not Everyone Thinks Their Country Has #Press, #Speech and #Internet #Freedoms
#FreeExpression Seen as Important Globally, but Not Everyone Thinks Their Country Has #Press, #Speech and #Internet #Freedoms
“Across our history, there have been dark chapters where state #power has been #weaponized & #dissent suppressed, including the crackdown during & after WWI, the #RedScare of the 1950s, & President Richard #Nixon’s ‘enemies list.’ These episodes are now seen as shameful deviations from the fundamental American principles of #FreeExpression & impartial #justice. The April 9 presidential memoranda are an appalling rejection of those bedrock democratic values.“
#RevengePolitics #AbuseOfPower #Trump
#RepublicOfGeorgia: New legislation directly threatens people's right to #protest and #FreeExpression
In a troubling shift toward #authoritarian governance, Georgia’s ruling party has enacted legislative reforms that drastically restrict freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and proposed changes to restrict #media, public participation.
February 10, 2025
"The key changes obstructing people’s right to protest include:
- Expanded organisers' liability;
- Restrictions on spontaneous protests;
- Limitations on protests in enclosed spaces: Protests in closed spaces or buildings now require written consent from the property owner, significantly restricting #student and #workplace #demonstrations. This provision appears to be a direct response to recent protests on #UniversityCampuses;
- Expanded penalties for protest-related offenses: Petty #hooliganism fines have risen from GEL 500-1,000 to GEL 500-2,000 (from maximum approximately 350-700 EUR) , with imprisonment now up to 20 days instead of 15. Verbal insults towards #PoliceOfficers now carry fines of GEL 2,000 5,000 (approx. 700-1750 EUR) or up to 60 days’ imprisonment. Repeat offenses can result in a GEL 3,500-6,000 ( 1200–2100 EUR) fine and extended jail terms. Additionally, individuals accused of "disrupting public order" face severe criminal penalties, including up to 3 years in prison;
- New restrictions on symbolic protest actions: Covering one's face, possessing a laser or light-emitting device, or wearing clothing resembling police or military uniforms during assemblies are now punishable by fines of GEL 2,000 ( 700 EUR) or imprisonment up to 7 days. Such measures are expected to disproportionately impact younger protesters and student-led movements;
- #Broadened law enforcement powers: The Ministry of Internal Affairs now holds increased authority over protest regulation, including the power to block protests that allegedly threaten public order or constitutional stability. Authorities can now use '#EmergencyMeasures' to disperse gatherings, including mass #arrests and prolonged #detentions;
- Increased state control over protest logistics: Protesters are now required to ensure that demonstrations do not obstruct transportation routes. Organisers must take action within 15 minutes of a warning to remove roadblocks or temporary structures, failing which they will face criminal liability;
- Participation in protests previously dispersed by law enforcement is now classified as an offense, subjecting #demonstrators to legal consequences.
"Given that the median salary in Georgia in 2023 was GEL 1,238 (approximately 400 EUR), these fines represent a disproportionate financial burden on protesters, effectively discouraging civic engagement and public demonstrations."
#RightToProtest #AntiProtestLaws
#GeorgianLaws #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #HumanRights #RepublicOfGeorgia #GeorgianDream #FaceMasks #AntiMaskLaws #ProtestSponsors #ACAB #ExpandedPolicePowers #PoliceState #Authoritarianism #Fascism
11. Disdain for #Intellectuals and the #Arts
"#Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to #HigherEducation and #academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other #academics to be censored or even arrested. #FreeExpression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts."
Fascism, Anyone? by Lawrence W. Britt published in 2003 by Free Inquiry magazine.
https://voxpopulisphere.com/2017/08/23/lawrence-britt-14-characteristics-of-fascism/
#USPol #DepartmentOfEducation #DEI #DumbingUsDown
The Senate Passed The TAKE IT DOWN Act, Threatening #FreeExpression and #DueProcess
The bill is meant to speed up the removal of non-consensual intimate imagery, or NCII, including videos that imitate real people, a technology sometimes called “deepfakes.”
Protecting victims of these heinous #privacy invasions is a legitimate goal. But good intentions alone are not enough to make good policy.
#deepfake #security
Friendly reminder...
You can report censorship and attacks on your local library by right wing trolls here:
https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport
Here is a list of organizations that may also be able to help you/your community save programs and materials from the chopping block:
Freedom to Read Foundation
Little Free Library
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
EveryLibrary Institute
PEN America
American Booksellers for Free Expression
The National Coalition Against Censorship
..........
Contact orgs that want to help. Archive media and information you enjoy or care about whenever you can.
#Freedom #FreeThought #FreeExpression #Save #Archive #FreedomtoRead #Fight #erasure and #revision.
Well it depends on us!
That is why i have choosen Mastodon
From Lawrence W. Britt: 14 Characteristics of #Fascism (2003)
11. Disdain for #Intellectuals and the #Arts
"Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to #HigherEducation and #academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other #academics to be censored or even arrested. #FreeExpression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts."
House Republicans mull taxes on #scholarships and changes to #StudentLoan programs
February 8, 2025
https://apnews.com/article/trump-administration-education-college-loans-532d52c2ccac8b4be459f7797fb63a73
#USPol #Fascism #CharacteristicsOfFascism #SignsOfFascism #ResistFascism #Education
So much for the USA as a bastion of free and fearless journalism!
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/business/media/paramount-trump-cbs-news-settlement.html
#USPolitics #USJournalism ##USMedia
#DonaldTrump #Texas #Paramount #60Minutes #Journalism #Media #FreeSpeech #FreeExpression #Censorship #ABCSettlement #MetaSettlement
It’s hard not to think our laws on speech in the U.K. aren’t broken when you read about prosecutions like this https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/greg-hadfield-ivor-caplin/ #freeexpression
On Instagram there is now #FreeExpression but you can't search the following terms:
#drumpf
#berniesanders
#queer
#obama
#voteblue
#dnc
#fucktrump (#fuckbiden remains unaffected)
#democrat“ (#republican remains unaffected)
#kamala
#prochoice
#constitution
#reproductiverights
#jan6th
#insurrection
#fascism
#liberal
#rightwing
#georgeconway
#domesticterrorist
#jacksmith
Other terms updatet here: https://www.reddit.com/r/de/comments/1i6gpto/instagram_unterdr%C3%BCckt_suchtreffer/
With the TikTok ruling, the Supreme Court has severely damaged the reputation of the USA as a champion of free expression and the unhindered circulation of ideas.
In memoriam. A list of sites closing due to the decisions of U.K. Polticans to pass the Online Safety Act 2023 https://onlinesafetyact.co.uk/in_memoriam/ #censorship #freeexpression
Charities and political and religious groups are exempt from licensing requirements when it comes to distributing leaflets. Isn’t there a strong case the Secretary of State should exempt those same groups from the requirements of the Online Safety Act to protect their freedom of expression rights? #freeexpression #onlinesafety #censorship
"The #EU will remain uncomfortable for #socialmedia giants by standing up for the integrity and independence of #freeexpression and #democraticprocesses. #Europe will never accept manipulation and #disinformation as a standard for #society
#Meta’s changes to policing will lead to clash with EU and UK, say experts | Meta | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/08/metas-changes-to-social-media-policing-will-lead-to-clash-with-eu-and-uk-say-experts
So Facebook won't shut me down if I go back there and post "Facebook is garbage"? #FreeExpression
Zuckerberg announces Meta will restore 'free expression' on its platforms, replacing the fact-checking program with Community Notes, starting in the US. A major shift in content moderation! 
#Meta #FreeExpression #CommunityNotes #SocialMedia #ContentModeration
Revealing My "X" #SocialCreditScore:
38 / 100
As a creator working uphill against #biased #algorithms (not liking accounts such as mine, challenging power), I use platforms - w/I agree w/them or not.
xAI considers analysis "conspiracy theories", & "skepticism on gov or corporate actions"
Screenshot of w/I refer to as my social credit score on X / Twitter, according to Grok:
Saving the Internet in #Europe: Defending #FreeExpression
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/12/saving-internet-europe-defending-free-expression
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