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Some American news outlets block access to their websites from Europe rather than comply with strict new European data privacy laws. Privacy concerns arise over voice-activated “assistants” in the home that are listening passively. President Trump nominates immigration hard-liner, a fellow at an organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center designates a hate group, to oversee State Department bureau on refugees and migration. San Antonio, nation’s fastest growing city, loses more journalists in layoffs from its local newspaper. -Dru Menaker, Chief Operating Officer

 

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

U.S.

U.S. News Outlets Block European Readers Over New Privacy Rules
American news outlets abruptly blocked European access to their websites, choosing to black out readers rather than comply with a strict new data privacy law in the E.U. that limits what information can be collected about people online.
NEW YORK TIMES

Hey Alexa, Come Clean About How Much You’re Really Recording Us
These devices are always “awake,” passively listening for the command to activate, such as “Alexa,” “O.K. Google,” or “Hey Siri.” The problem is they’re far from perfect about responding only when we want them to.
WASHINGTON POST

Trump Administration Nominates Immigration Hard-Liner for Migration Post at State Department
Ronald Mortensen, an advocate for restricting legal and illegal immigration, has been nominated by Trump to be assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. “Illegal aliens commit felonies in order to get jobs”.
CNN

The San Antonio Express-News Cuts More Senior Editorial Staff
The job cuts aren’t the first at the Express-News and certainly are in character with the deep cuts at daily papers around the country, which have suffered as readers and ad dollars flee to online sources.
SAN ANTONIO CURRENT

 
Global

Journalistic Community Slams Kiev’s Ban on Russian Media
Ukrainian authorities blocked the operation of Rossiya Segodnya International News Agency on the country’s territory in a move which Moscow and the international journalistic community have denounced as another step in the censorship.
SPUTNIK NEWS

Spanish Rapper On the Run After ‘Terror Lyrics’ Prison Sentence
Josep Miquel Arenas Beltran was due to begin a three-and-a-half year prison sentence for producing lyrics the Spanish courts ruled glorify terrorism and insult the Spanish monarchy. An international arrest warrant has been issued.
BBC

Iran Will Lose Its War Against Free Expression
In a new report, the Committee to Protect Journalists calls out Iran’s president for doing almost nothing to improve free speech. He had pledged to do so during his campaign, but nearly five years into his presidency, he has failed to deliver.
WASHINGTON POST

The Plight of Pakistan’s Journalists
It is constitutionally guaranteed in Pakistan that journalists can perform their duties independently. However, entities that championed democracy have ditched media organizations, unless they are trying to use it for their own agenda.
DIPLOMAT

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