Government watchdog groups prepare to sue the Trump administration to release logs of lobbyists and other White House visitors. Senators question implications for free speech and whistleblower protections from Trump administration’s now-paused effort to unmask a critical Twitter account holder. And legal experts raise concerns about cell phones and cameras seized from journalists and other observers during Inauguration Day demonstrations. -Dru Menaker, Chief Operating Officer

DARE: Daily Alert on Rights and Expression

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

U.S.

Who’s visiting the White House? Watchdog groups are suing to find out.
A coalition of government watchdog groups plans to sue the Trump administration on Monday with the aim of compelling the White House to continue President Barack Obama’s practice of releasing logs of lobbyists and others who visit the complex.
WASHGINTON POST

Senators Challenge Trump Administration Over Twitter Witch Hunt
President Donald Trump’s administration has backed off its push to find out who is behind a Twitter account that criticizes the president and his immigration policies, but that’s not enough for some lawmakers.
HUFFINGTON POST

Mass Arrests On Inauguration Day Swept Up Journalists And Legal Observers — And Their Phones
Police seized the cell phones and cameras of journalists and legal observers arrested during Inauguration Day demonstrations. Prosecutors have dropped the criminal charges against many of them, but concerns persist about the seizure and possible search of their electronic devices.
BUZZFEED

Protesters disrupt talk by pro-police author, sparking free-speech debate at Claremont McKenna College
Administrators expressed disappointment and threatened discipline in the wake of a demonstration that disrupted a planned public event last week featuring conservative commentator and author Heather MacDonald at Claremont McKenna College.
LA TIMES

Student journalist protections die in Indiana Senate
A bill meant to protect student journalists’ First Amendment rights died in the Indiana Senate on Friday. Representative Edward Clere, author of House Bill 1130, intended for the bill to roll back the restrictions imposed in 1988.
SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

 
Global

Somalia’s breakaway Somaliland sentences journalist to two years in jail
A court in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland has sentenced a reporter to two years in jail for what it said was endangering peace and security, a journalists’ rights group said on Saturday.
BUSINESS INSIDER

Russian-Owned LiveJournal Bans Political Talk, Adds Risk of Spying
LiveJournal, a blog community that’s hosted a lot of science fiction authors and fans, has officially banned “political solicitation”— which can mean anything that criticises the Russian government to pro-LGBTQ discussions. There are also concerns users can be subject to Russian spying.
GIZMODO

After Aung San Suu Kyi’s First Year in Power, Dismay Swirls in Myanmar
No one expected governing to be easy for Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, who became the country’s de facto leader a year ago after her party won a landslide election that ended more than a half-century of military rule. Even so, her first year has been a disappointment to many.
THE NEW YORK TIMES

Facebook vs Palestine: Implicit support for oppression
Facebook’s censorship and information sharing policies reveal a persistent pro-Israeli bias. Between 2015 and 2016, Israel arrested more than 400 Palestinians because of content they circulated online, often on Facebook, that Israel alleged amounted to “incitement”.
AL JAZEERA

Silencing journalists in Mexico
Drug cartels, corrupt officials and a climate of impunity make Mexico the most dangerous place for journalists in the Western hemisphere. Intimidation, killings and censorship are just some of the tactics used to muzzle journalists in Mexico.
AL JAZEERA

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