PEN America’s take on today’s most pressing threats to free expression

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

U.S.

After Trump win, news organizations see a bump in subscriptions
ProPublica, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and others say that they’ve seen an increase in interest from readers.
NEIMAN LAB

Social-Media Companies Forced to Confront Misinformation and Harassment
Ongoing complaints about misinformation and hate speech on the internet are forcing social-media companies to confront whether they need to take more responsibility for the content on their sites.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

U.N. officials denounce treatment of Native American pipeline protesters
The United Nations’ special rapporteur on the rights of freedom of association and peaceful assembly released a forceful statement Tuesday, calling out U.S. security forces for using violence against protesters peacefully opposing the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota, as well as what he called “the inhuman and degrading conditions” those arrested faced in detention.
THE WASHINGTON POST

Parents furious after students shown image of Trump firing Obama
Now, a Tuscaloosa, Ala., teacher has been placed on administrative leave for politicizing the image in a way that some students and parents found offensive.Beneath Trump’s smiling face, the word “Hope” had been changed to: “Obama, You’re Fired!”
THE WASHINGTON POST

 
Global

Czech lawmakers seek to make defaming the president a crime
A group of Czech lawmakers, including some from the ruling coalition, have proposed making defamation of the president a criminal offence, a sensitive move in a country where such a law was used to lock up dissidents during the communist era.
REUTERS

Global Internet Continues to Become Less Free
According to Freedom House’s annual “Freedom on the Net” report, for the sixth year in a row, the global internet became less free as governments around the world re-doubled efforts to limit free expression, ban encryption technologies, and punish users for posting or sharing material deemed unacceptable by national authorities.
VOICE OF AMERICA

Hong Kong court bans pro-independence politicians from office
Hong Kong’s high court has banned two young pro-independence activists from the city’s parliament for their previous statements and protests against Beijing, plunging the former British colony deeper into an intensifying political crisis.
THE GUARDIAN

Christian foster parents: Council ‘stopping our free speech’
A Christian couple blocked from adopting their two foster children because of their views on same-sex parenting have said their right to free speech has been infringed.
BBC

In wake of Thai king’s death, journalists fear speech crackdown
Secrecy about the Thai king’s health has fueled rumors of his death, which his subjects discussed only euphemistically and in hushed tones—at least in public. When his end finally arrived last month, speaking freely about the topic got even harder.
COLUMBIA JOURNALISM REVIEW

 

PEN America’s DARE brings you a daily curated round-up of the most important free expression-related stories from around the web. Please send your feedback and story suggestions to [email protected]