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Guggenheim pulls three controversial works from exhibition, citing threats from animal rights activists (see PEN America statement here). Protests planned for speech by Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the topic of free speech at Georgetown. Obama personally warned Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg about the dangers of fake news. Reddit discovers that closing forums—as opposed to individual accounts—that fuel hateful speech seems to reduce its spread across the network. Owners and corporate sponsors weigh in on NFL anthem protests. -Suzanne Nossel, Executive Director

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

U.S.

Guggenheim, Bowing to Animal-Rights Activists, Pulls Works From Show
Facing an avalanche of criticism, the Guggenheim museum said it would remove three major works from a highly anticipated exhibition of art by Chinese conceptual artists, including the signature piece of the show, “out of concern for the safety of its staff, visitors, and participating artists.”
NEW YORK TIMES

Some Georgetown Law students and faculty plan to protest speech by Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Some welcomed the opportunity to hear from the top law-enforcement officer and top lawyer in the U.S. government. But others objected to the late notice and limited audience for such a high-profile speaker, and argued that was antithetical to the idea of free speech and an open exchange of ideas.
WASHINGTON POST

Obama tried to give Zuckerberg a wake-up call over fake news on Facebook
Two months before Trump’s inauguration, Obama made a personal appeal to Zuckerberg to take the threat of fake news seriously. Unless Facebook and the government did more to address the threat, Obama warned, it would only get worse in the next presidential race.
WASHINGTON POST

Reddit Limits Noxious Content by Giving Trolls Fewer Places to Gather
A new study suggests that the most effective anti-hate tactic may be what amounts to a nuclear option: identifying and shutting down the spaces where hateful speech occurs, rather than targeting bad actors individually or in groups.
NEW YORK TIMES

How Every NFL Team Responded To Trump’s National Anthem Protest Comments
President Trump expressed his opinion that NFL players who kneel or otherwise take part in protests during the national anthem should be fired. He also tweeted that players “should not be allowed to disrespect our Great American Flag (or Country).” Here’s how the league is responding.
NPR

 
Global

Egypt arrests 7 for raising rainbow flag at indy rock gig
Egyptian authorities arrested seven people whom they accused of being gay and promoting homosexuality for allegedly raising the rainbow flag of the LGBT movement at a concert, even though there is no official ban of the practice.
WASHINGTON POST

China’s Censors Pull Revered Director’s Film Days Before Release, Outraging Industry
Youth, the 17th film from renowned Chinese filmmaker Feng Xiaogang, was well received at its world premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival. But without explanation, China’s censors suddenly ordered the film pulled from release.
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Russia’s Censors Eye Facebook Ban in 2018
Russia could ban Facebook next year if it fails to comply with a 2015 law requiring companies to store Russian citizens’ personal data on local servers, the state media censor said. The head of Russia’s state media watchdog Roskomnadzor warned that “there are no exceptions.”
MOSCOW TIMES

Turkish court releases prominent journalist Kadri Gürsel from jail
An Istanbul court ordered the release of journalist Kadri Gürsel in the third hearing of a case that targets the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper; however, the Istanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court also ruled for the continued arrest of four others including reporter Ahmet Şık and editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu.
HURRIYET DAILY NEWS

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