German businessman contests his €6,000 fine for mocking Green politicians
A German entrepreneur will now go to court, to contest a fine he received for mocking Green politicians.
Free speech
Latest reporting and analysis on free speech.
UK redefines ‘extremism’ as hate-crime surges
Britain instigated its new definition of "extremism" designed to counter a surge in hate crime.
Pornhub puts up stiff opposition to EC over size measurement
Pornography website Pornhub’s parent company Aylo has accused the European Commission of exaggerating the platform's size.
European press-freedom under serious threat as journalists intimidated, report finds
The Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists, a Council of Europe partner, warned against increasing abuse of journalists in its…
Exclusive: Holocaust survivor content binned in Polish public TV ‘revolution’
A Polish TV interview with the UK's Lord (Daniel) Finkelstein recounting the rescue of his family members by Polish diplomats during the Second World War, has been…
AI-created fakery rears its ugly head in Russia as Kremlin elections near
Generative AI has made its first widespread appearance in 2024 in Russia, ahead of presidential elections in the country.
Is it OK for Big Tech to censor Donald Trump? What the US Supreme Court decides in a free-speech case could determine what Europeans can say on social media
Despite what the European Union's boosters may wish, Big Tech is still overwhelmingly headquartered in the US.
Italian Army General suspended and demoted over controversial book
Italian Army General Roberto Vannacci has been suspended from employment for 11 months over a "lack of a sense of responsibility" regarding a book he published last…
Encryption and child sexual material: Brussels struggling to digest ECHR ruling
"It is clear that the EU should, of course, cease its efforts towards the statutory obligation to decrypt end-to-end communications," Mikuláš Peksa, Czech MEP…
Don’t send Julian Assange to the United States. That would be a crime – destroying a few Picassos and Warhols is not
A Russian artist, who in the historic way of Russian artists manages to live in Paris, is threatening to destroy pictures by Picasso and Warhol if Julian Assange…
ECHR: Laws weakening encrypted communications breach human rights
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has made a new landmark decision, ruling that laws that weaken data protection violate human rights.
Berlin claims censoring ‘hate’ benefits online freedom of speech
The German Government has claimed that one way to enhance freedom of speech within the country would be through tighter controls regarding "hate" online.
MEPs grill ‘digital enforcer’ Breton over ‘Stalinist censorship’
"We must not allow neo-Marxists in Europe to destroy free speech because they want to impose their vision of the world on us," one opponent said
The EU’s ‘hate speech’ laws are an attack on free speech itself: This year’s European elections may be the last chance to defend our rights
After last November’s attack on a Dublin Catholic school, graffiti reading “Irish lives matter” appeared on the Falls Road in West Belfast.
Poland’s ‘disappearing’ English language public media services
First came the suspension of TVP World, Polish public television’s English language channel, in December.
Ukraine making ‘progress’ with free speech despite censorship push, EC insists
Ukraine is making "progress" with protecting freedom of speech despite its Government backing the censorship of journalists, the European Commission has insisted.
The EU’s hate-speech bill is not simply about being tough on prejudice. But it is a crackdown on dissent and a restriction on democracy
Last Thursday, in a worrying development for freedom of speech in Europe, the European Parliament voted to add hate speech and hate crime to the list of ‘EU Crimes’.
Turkey ramps-up web censorship ahead of March elections
Turkey has clamped down on virtual private networks (VPNs) ahead of local elections in March.
Biden Government slammed over ‘silence’ on Polish PM Tusk’s media crackdown
"The firing of personnel ...
NGOs can ‘police the internet’ with EC blessing
The European Commission has given NGOs the power to patrol the web under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Norwegian mass shooter Breivik pushes to end prison isolation
Anders Behring Breivik, the far-right fanatic who killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in Norway in 2011, will testify in court on Tuesday as he presses…
UK launches first investigation into Metaverse ‘virtual rape’ case
British authorities have reportedly launched their first investigation into an alleged "virtual rape".
Make no mistake: The EU’s war on X is a war on free speech
After months of potshots, the EU's war with Twitter / X has now officially begun.
Breton announces EC investigation into Musk’s X
Among the accusations of wrongdoing, the body attacked X for its alleged failure to censor "illegal content" relating to the Israel-Hamas war.
Norwegian university chief resigns after targeting her pro-nuclear researchers
Anne Borg, Principal of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), has resigned after it came to light she publicly derided two of her researchers,…
As Hanukkah ends, local governments look to combat antisemitism
On the evening of December 15, as the sun sets early, many Jewish Europeans mark the last day of Hanukkah.
Pirates’ MEPs pull support for EU Digital ID plan over ‘mass surveillance’ fears
"Over-identification will gradually erode our right to use digital services anonymously. Mark Zuckerberg should have no right to see our ID!"
EU’s draft free-speech law ‘too weak’, say lawyers and journalists
The European Union's proposed free-speech legislation is "too weak" and does not reflect legal reality, lawyers and media professionals have told Brussels Signal.
Musk’s X says Irish minister McEntee’s ‘no-censorship’ claims are ‘inaccurate’
US tech billionaire Elon Musk's X social media platform has accused Ireland's justice minister Helen McEntee of making "inaccurate" statements in the Irish Parliament…
European Court of Justice approves banning of religious symbols at work
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled in favour of the Belgian Government banning religious symbols in the workplace in an apparent effort to create a “neutral…