Free Expression Daily Digest: Tues., Mar 8

PEN’s Free Expression Digest brings you a daily curated round-up of the most important free expression-related stories from around the web. Subscribe here. *This mailing list is currently in BETA as we work out the kinks. Please send your feedback and suggestions to [email protected]

Chinese publication, censored by government, exposes article’s removal
On Tuesday, the influential and respected news organization Caixin Media posted an article on its English-language website reporting that the country’s Internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China, had deleted a March 3 article on Caixin’s Chinese-language website because it contained “illegal content.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES

Turkish journalists slam EU for ‘turning a blind eye’ to crackdown on free press
As world leaders convened in Brussels on Monday for a landmark European Union-Turkey summit focused on the migrant crisis, journalists in Turkey slammed the EU for “turning a blind eye” to the country’s attempts to suppress its free press. HUFFINGTON POST

Ethiopia detains journalists covering Oromo protests
Two journalists and a translator were arbitrarily detained for 24 hours on Thursday when reporting on the protests in Oromia, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of East Africa. They were not given any reason for their detention. Their phones and identification cards were taken during the arrest. NEWSWEEK

China’s new film law to promote open censorship system
China plans to promulgate a new law with clear guidelines to promote “open and transparent” censorship system, a senior Chinese official said today, as the country expands its links with Hollywood and Bollywood. BUSINESS STANDARD

Lawmakers wonder: Can anti-stalking laws limit free speech?
Vermont lawmakers are looking to expand the anti-stalking statute to cover instances in which a person “observes” or “monitors” another. But some see the changes as impinging on constitutionally protected free expression. THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed backs bill gagging media
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed has backed the proposed Frivolous Petition Bill which seeks to gag the media. Mohammed while speaking yesterday at a public hearing urged all Nigerians to support the bill, saying when finally passed into law, it would help protect everyone in the country.
DAILY POST