Twitter significantly escalates suspension of fake and suspicious accounts. News organizations debate rationale for broadcasting live Trump rallies. National security reporter says she voluntarily revealed a source to FBI in Russia probe because she could not in good conscience do otherwise. Report says Amazon, despite its policy, is being used for sales of racist and white supremacist merchandise and e-books. Myanmar judge rules Reuters journalists who reported on human rights abuses will face trial. (See PEN America statement on PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award honorees) -Dru Menaker, Chief Operating Officer

 

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

U.S.

Twitter is Sweeping Out Fake Accounts, Suspending More than Seventy Million in Two Months
The rate of account suspensions, which Twitter confirmed to the Post, has more than doubled since October, when the company under congressional pressure revealed how Russia used fake accounts to manipulate the U.S. presidential election.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE

President Trump’s Rallies Get Extensive Airtime on Fox News
Four times in the past few weeks, Fox has set aside its usual programming to air the president speaking live to supporters at events. Critics say Fox is essentially giving Trump free, repeated access to his supporters in a midterm election year.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Journalist’s Conscience Leads Her to Reveal Her Source to the FBI. Here’s Why.
Marcy Wheeler, who writes a well-regarded national security blog, not only revealed a source—she did so to the FBI, eventually becoming a witness in Robert Mueller’s investigation of Trump’s connections to Russia. “It’s not a decision I regret.”
WASHINGTON POST

Amazon is Used to Promote White Supremacist Merchandise and Views, Report Says
Two nonprofits are criticizing Amazon for allowing its platforms to spread white supremacy and racism, identifying how shoppers can buy onesies for babies stamped with alt-right images, Nazi-themed action figures, and anti-Semitic books and music.
NEW YORK TIMES

Opinion: How to Fix Big Tech? We Need the Right Language to Describe it First
“A growing number of think-tanks, regulators, and journalists are grappling with the question of how to best regulate big tech. But we won’t fix it with better public policy alone. We also need better language.”
GUARDIAN

 
Global

Myanmar Court Files Secrets Act Charges Against Reuters Reporters *PEN Case List
A court in Myanmar charged two jailed Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo with obtaining secret state documents, moving the landmark press freedom case into its trial stage after six months of preliminary hearings.
REUTERS

Opinion: While Everyone Watches the World Cup, a Political Prisoner Starves in Russia*PEN Case List
“Mr. Putin is likely hoping that the tournament will distract from the myriad injustices committed by his regime. But the democratic world—and particularly the U.S.—cannot afford to let Mr. Putin’s abuses in Crimea go unchallenged.”
WASHINGTON POST

Inside China’s Dystopian Dreams: A.I., Shame and Lots of Cameras
With China embracing technologies like facial recognition and artificial intelligence to identify and track its people, also comes the backtracking of technology as a democratizer, bringing people more freedom and connecting them to the world.
NEW YORK TIMES

It’s Fifty Years Since the End of Stage Censorship in Britain—But How Free Are Artists Really?
It’s been half a century since the Theatres Act 1968 came into force, abolishing state censorship of the British stage and enshrining the right of free expression in theatrical works. However, works can still be shut down by other means.
INDEPENDENT

Doha Center for Media Freedom Holds Training Course on Safety of Journalists
The course, moderated by Mahmoud al-Ken, reporter and producer at Al Jazeera, focused on raising awareness of journalists’ safety in high-conflict areas and providing them with skills to help deal with risks they may face during their work.
GULF TIMES

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