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Schoolchildren across the country mount unprecedented coordinated protest to demand gun control. In defending against Trump libel suit over Steele dossier, Buzzfeed takes steps to provide Trump accuser Stormy Daniels an avenue to get her story out. Estate of Harper Lee sues Broadway producer Scott Rudin over forthcoming production of To Kill a Mockingbird alleging that its creators have violated an agreement not to alter the story. Facebook blocks Britain First, a right-wing group plugged by Trump. -Suzanne Nossel, Executive Director

 

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

U.S.

National School Walkout: Thousands Protest Against Gun Violence Across the U.S.
On Wednesday, students across the country marched in the first major coordinated action of the student-led movement for gun control. “We have grown up watching more tragedies occur and continuously asking: Why?”
NEW YORK TIMES

BuzzFeed Maneuver Could Free Stormy Daniels to Speak on Trump
BuzzFeed may have found a legal opening to allow porn actress Stormy Daniels to discuss her alleged relationship with President Trump and a $130,000 payment she received as part of a nondisclosure agreement she is now trying to void.
POLITICO

Harper Lee’s Estate Sues Over ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Broadway Adaptation. Atticus at Issue.
Harper Lee’s estate sues Broadway producer Scott Rudin this week, saying the script deviates too far from “the spirit of the novel”. Rudin, however, responded by saying he “can’t” present the play as is because of its “racial politics”.
WASHINGTON POST

Britain First Banned From Facebook for ‘Inciting Animosity and Hatred’
The party’s following—which had almost 2 million likes on Facebook, making it one of the biggest political pages in the UK—had largely been built on repackaging and manipulating news items, videos and photos to further their agenda.
HUFFINGTON POST

 
Global

Singapore Starts Landmark Public Hearing on Fake News
Singapore began a public hearing this week on how to tackle the threat of fake news, with speakers suggesting measures ranging from blocking websites to balancing the interests of national security and free speech.
JAKARTA GLOBE

Kuwaiti Journalist: Freedom of Expression is an Important Value, Especially in Religious Matters
Ibtihal Al-Khatib, a Kuwaiti journalist and professor, explains that the existence of freedom of expression prevents a build-up of anger, especially on religious issues, without which, “faith is false”.
MIDDLE EAST MEDIA RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Sri Lanka Lifts Facebook Ban After Hate Speech Assurance
Sri Lanka has lifted a week-long ban on Facebook after the tech giant agreed to step up efforts to remove hate speech posted on its platform. Facebook “will not be used for spreading hate speech and inciting violence”.
CHANNEL NEWSASIA

Reporters in Oppressive Countries are Using Spotify to Leak Their Censored Stories
Using a loophole in oppressive countries’ laws, The Uncensored Playlist allows journalists, who live where freedom of speech is under constant attack, to use music streaming platforms to spread uncensored news stories.
DIGITAL MUSIC NEWS

BBC Game Challenges Young People to Spot “Fake News”
The new interactive BBC iReporter game gives young people the chance to make their own decisions on which sources, political claims, social media comments, and pictures should be trusted as they contribute to the day’s news output.
BBC

 

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