PEN America Warns of Likely Legal Challenges to Bill Putting Restrictions on Social Media Use by Young People
Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America Florida, said: “Governor DeSantis has voiced concerns about this measure in the past, vetoing the first version of this bill, HB1. The changes… More
Free Speech and Other Organizations Urge Florida Lawmakers to Oppose Bill Banning Youth from Social Media
We know social media sites can present significant risks to minors, but the state’s response to such risks should be tailored to minimize harm, not passing measures that violate… More
Social Media Content Moderation Laws ‘Strike at the Heart of the First Amendment’
PEN America said two laws being challenged before the Supreme Court are unconstitutional and seek to control public discourse much in the same way that book bans, educational gag… More
In Amicus Brief, PEN America Argues Laws Restricting Content Moderation Online Are Unconstitutional
In the brief filed Thursday, PEN America, joined by Library Futures, argues that the Texas and Florida laws seek to impose orthodoxy on public discourse much in the same… More
Death Sentence for Retired Teacher Over Social Media Posts in Saudi Arabia is a “Horrifying Escalation” of the Kingdom’s Crackdown on Free Expression
Justin Shilad, Middle East and North Africa research and advocacy lead at PEN America, said: “Saudi Arabia’s sentencing Mohammed al-Ghamdi to death for posting and sharing on social media… More
PEN America: Removing Block Button on Twitter/X Puts Another Nail in the Coffin of the Platform
“Elon Musk seems determined to make X (formerly known as Twitter) the least safe and least equitable social media platform on the internet. Before Musk acquired the platform, PEN America worked closely for years with Twitter's human… More
New Report: To Reduce Online Abuse, Social Media Platforms Must Overhaul Flawed System for Users to Report Harassment and Threats
Viktorya Vilk, director for digital safety and free expression at PEN America and the report co-author, said: “The mechanisms for reporting abuse are deeply flawed and further traumatize and… More
As Twitter Dismantles Safeguards, Onus Shifts to Users to Prevent the Spread of Disinformation
"With Twitter having dismantled safeguards against the spread of disinformation and impersonation, a heavy onus now shifts to users to bring a discerning eye to the platform, taking everything… More
Bill to Ban TikTok is a Sweeping Resort to Censorship that Would Undermine Free Expression, Says PEN America
Proposals such as Hawley’s–including the recently introduced Terminate TikTok on Campus Act (H.R. 231), which would prohibit federal funding of higher education institutions unless they ban TikTok on institution-owned… More
PEN America Calls on Elon Musk to Reverse Twitter Suspensions of Journalists
”It’s alarming but unfortunately not so surprising to see Musk silencing journalists or creating new content regulation rules on a whim, based purely on what he finds inconvenient for… More