News & Analysis
The latest news and analysis from PEN America’s research and advocacy.
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Press Releases • Commentary
PEN America: Facebook, Twitter Must Move Fast to Clarify Policies on Disinformation After New York Post Controversy
(New York, NY) — Earlier this week, Twitter and Facebook took steps to limit posting and amplification in relation to a New York Post article on emails purportedly belonging… More
PEN America Demands Belarus Drop Charges Against Olga Shparaga
"We demand Shparaga’s immediate release. Efforts to silence political opponents through arrests, kidnappings and harassment are a violation of people’s most basic human rights, and are doomed to fail.” More
China Formally Charges Chinese-Australian Novelist
“From the very beginning, at every turn, the Chinese government’s treatment of Yang Hengjun has been marked by an almost-complete disregard for international law and for the rule of… More
Accusation That ‘Cuties’ Crosses Legal Lines ‘Patently False’
"While people are free to criticize the film's depiction of children in provocative clothing and dance performances, the claim that this fictional film transgresses legal lines is patently false." More
Arrest of Vietnamese Writer is Escalation in Attempts to Quash Independent Political Thought
"Knowing the power of her work, Trang has firmly upheld her belief in human rights principles, even amidst constant judicial and physical retaliation from the Vietnamese government." More
PEN America Heartened at Release of Narges Mohammadi
“We are deeply heartened to be celebrating Narges Mohammadi’s freedom from prison today after more than five years behind bars." More
PEN America Congratulates Louise Glück on Nobel Prize
“It is a wonderful day to celebrate the beauty and power of poetry to remind us what it means to simply be human in times like these." More
Texas University Calls on State AG to Investigate Professor’s Speech
“While Professor Jun’s Facebook comment may sound extreme when read literally, this is clearly an instance of extramural political commentary—protected speech for which Jun should certainly not face a… More
Executive Order on Race and Sex Stereotyping is Chilling Free Expression
"This is an assault on the essential freedom protected under the First Amendment—not just to speak but to receive information, to debate ideas freely and without fear of punishment,… More
Iran Unjustly Jails Three Writers Amid Pandemic
"Forcing Baktash Abtin, Keyvan Bajan, and Reza Khandan-Mahabadi behind bars while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep through Iran’s prisons is not only a blatant and appalling violation of… More