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Justice Department seizes years of New York Times reporter’s phone and email records and arrests former Senate Intelligence Committee staff member in leak investigation. Poll finds 53 percent of respondents believe athletes have right to protest on the field. After pulling game involving school shooting, online store says it will allow all types of games on its platform if not illegal. Former Fox News military analyst says it is a “destructive propaganda machine” doing grave disservice to country.- Dru Menaker, Chief Operating Office

The most pressing threats and notable goings-on in free expression today

U.S.

Ex-Senate Aide Charged in Leak Case Where Times Reporter’s Records Were Seized
James A. Wolfe, a former Senate Intelligence Committee aide, was arrested in an investigation of classified information leaks where prosecutors secretly seized years’ worth of a New York Times reporter’s phone and email records. Wolfe’s case led to the first known instance of the Justice Department going after a reporter’s data under President Trump.
NEW YORK TIMES

Not as Many Americans Support Trump’s View of NFL Protests as He Implies
President Trump and his supporters often claim that most Americans back the president’s stance on NFL players protesting during the national anthem. But the most recent data shows that a narrow majority of Americans don’t see the issue as the president does.
THE WASHINGTON POST

Steam Games Store to ‘Allow Everything’
The Steam video game store has changed its content policy to “allow everything”, unless it is illegal or “straight up trolling”.Steam’s decision follows high-profile instances of controversial content appearing on the platform, specifically, their Active [school] Shooter game, which sparked protest.
BBC NEWS

Former Fox News Analyst Calls Network a ‘Destructive Propaganda Machine’
Ralph Peters, who regularly appeared on Fox News to offer military analysis, quit the program in March. “Fox did become a destructive propaganda machine,” Mr. Peters said. “And I don’t do propaganda for anyone.”
NEW YORK TIMES

 
Global

#TankMen2018, a Global Work of Protest Art
In 1989 Fengsuo Zhou witnessed the tanks that crushed young demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Zhou an inspiration to Badiucao, a Chinese artist, shared his desire to redefine the memory of Tiananmen through “Tank Man,” the unidentified figure who stoically confronted the tanks. Using art to challenge censorship has become Badiucao’s calling card.
THE ECONOMIST

China is Putting its Weight Behind North Korea by Censoring Insults of Kim Jong Un
China appears to be censoring searches of words and phrases insulting to Kim Jong Un ahead of the US-North Korea summit. China maintains a strong bent toward censorship regardless of North Korea, which inadvertently pushes Chinese internet users to get creative with their search terms in order to avoid censorship algorithms.
BUSINESS INSIDER

Austria to Shut Seven ‘Political’ Mosques and Expel Imams
Austria has said it will close down seven mosques and expel imams who it says are funded by foreign countries. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the move was a crackdown on political Islam. Mr Kurz’s election campaign last year drew heavily on anxiety about immigration and the integration of Muslims.
BBC NEWS

Money-Laundering, Censorship Fears Fanned in Swiss Gambling Vote
Switzerland wanted to introduce rules to legalize online gambling. Instead it crafted a law that critics say amounts to internet censorship, and it sparked a nationwide referendum. The bill approved by both houses of Swiss Parliament late last year was designed by lawmakers to crackdown on Internet gambling-related crime.
BLOOMBERG

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