Latest Censorship News

Singapore's new prime minister vows to 'lead in our own way' as Lee dynasty ends after half-century

May. 15, 2024 12:45 PM EDT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore’s new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong vowed to make “tomorrow better than today” as he took his oath of office Wednesday in a carefully planned political succession designed to ensure stability in the Asian financial hub. A U.S.-trained...

YouTube blocks Hong Kong protest anthem after court injunction bans song in the city

May. 15, 2024 00:16 AM EDT

HONG KONG (AP) — YouTube has blocked access to videos of a protest song in Hong Kong, days after court approved an injunction banning the song in the city. “Glory to Hong Kong” was an anthem of anti-government protests in 2019. YouTube said that it would comply with a removal...

North Carolina bill to curb mask-wearing in protests could make it illegal for medical reasons too

May. 14, 2024 16:36 PM EDT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — People wearing a mask during protests in North Carolina could face extra penalties if arrested, under proposed legislation that critics say could make it illegal to wear a mask in public as a way to protect against COVID-19 or for other health reasons. ...

Australian judge lifts court ban on X showing video of Sydney church stabbing

May. 13, 2024 03:54 AM EDT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian judge Monday lifted a ban on the social media platform X showing Australians a video of a bishop being stabbed in a Sydney church. The temporary ban was put in place April 22, but the judge rejected the application from Australia’s...

US appeals court says Pennsylvania town's limits on political lawn signs are unconstitutional

May. 10, 2024 16:01 PM EDT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal appeals court panel has found that a small Pennsylvania town's ordinance designed to cut down on lawn signs is unconstitutional, saying that its resulting limitations on political lawn signs violates the free speech rights of residents. The decision...

Australian judge extends ban on X sharing video of Sydney bishop's stabbing

May. 10, 2024 07:04 AM EDT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian judge on Friday extended a ban on X allowing videos of the stabbing of a Sydney bishop in his church last month after government lawyers condemned the social media company's free speech argument for keeping the graphic images circulating. ...

No hate crime charges filed against man who yelled racist slurs at Utah women's basketball team

May. 08, 2024 21:42 PM EDT

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A northern Idaho prosecutor won’t bring hate crime charges against an 18-year-old accused of shouting a racist slur at members of the Utah women’s basketball team during the NCAA Tournament. The deputy attorney for the city of Coeur d’Alene made the...

Protest song 'Glory to Hong Kong' now banned in city after appeals court overturns ruling

May. 08, 2024 21:23 PM EDT

HONG KONG (AP) — An appeals court on Wednesday granted the Hong Kong government's request to ban a popular protest song, overturning an earlier ruling and deepening concerns over the erosion of freedoms in the once-freewheeling global financial hub. “Glory to Hong Kong” was...

TikTok sues US to block law that could ban the social media platform

May. 07, 2024 19:29 PM EDT

TikTok and its Chinese parent company filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a new American law that would ban the popular video-sharing app in the U.S. unless it's sold to an approved buyer, saying it unfairly singles out the platform and is an unprecedented attack on free speech. In...

Italy's RAI journalists strike over budget streamlining, complain of censorship and media repression

May. 06, 2024 20:30 PM EDT

ROME (AP) — Some journalists at Italy’s state-run RAI went on strike Monday to protest budget streamlining and what they said was an increasingly repressive atmosphere in Italy for media under the government of Premier Giorgia Meloni. The 24-hour RAI strike is the latest protest...