President Obama gives a nod to the role of the press in keeping the government honest at his final presser. Meanwhile, Trump’s DC hotel denies entrance to journalists; no word yet on plans for a lunch counter sit in.‎ And the New York Times unmasks a 23-year old mass purveyor of a fake news story allegedly revealing fraudulent ballots for Hillary Clinton. -Suzanne Nossel, Executive Director

DARE: Daily Alert on Rights and Expression

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

U.S.

Trump Team Proposes Eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities
Among other changes, Trump has proposed that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting be privatized, while the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities would be eliminated entirely.
THE HILL

Trump’s D.C. hotel bans press during inauguration week
The Trump International Hotel in Washington is banning the media from its premises during inauguration week.
POLITICO

Obama’s final presser gives nod to press freedom
As President-elect Donald Trump clashes with the media, President Obama appeared to make a subtle comment on global press freedom with his list of questioners during his final news conference on Wednesday.
USA TODAY

Civil rights groups urge Facebook to fix ‘racially biased’ moderation system
Facebook allows white supremacists to spread violent threats while censoring Black Lives Matter posts and activists of color, according to civil rights groups that called on the technology company to fix its “racially biased” moderation system.
THE GUARDIAN

From Headline to Photograph, a Fake News Masterpiece
As Mr. Trump takes office this week, the beneficiary of at least a modest electoral boost from a flood of fakery, Mr. Harris and his ersatz-news website, ChristianTimesNewspaper.com, make for an illuminating tale.
NEW YORK TIMES

 
Global

Rights Groups Ask China to Free Tibetan Education Advocate
International human rights groups are calling on China to drop charges against a Tibetan entrepreneur and education advocate who was indicted by court officials this month for “inciting separatism.”
NEW YORK TIMES

Why Do Belarusian Authorities Fear Graffiti?
On 22 December 2016, three Belarusian street artists sued an investigative committee for unfounded accusations of hooliganism. On 13 January, the court rejected the claim, pointing to the absence of any violations of the artists’ rights.
BELARUS DIGEST

A New Form of Censorship in App Stores
Different governments have different ways of controlling what information their citizens do or do not see. In recent years, technology — used to do things like blocking websites or choking off social media feeds — has become crucial to those governments’ efforts.
NEW YORK TIMES

What I’ve witnessed in Turkey is an assault on democracy itself
Erdoğan, emboldened by the rise of Trump, is crushing fragile freedoms – tens of thousands detained and the press muzzled. The west must end its silence.
THE GUARDIAN

DARE is a project of PEN America’s #LouderTogether campaign, bringing you a daily curated round-up of the most important free expression-related news from the U.S. and abroad. Send your feedback and story suggestions to [email protected]