Expression

European Court Strikes Down Russian ‘Foreign Agent’ Law, Citing Violations of Expression and Privacy Rights

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STRASBOURG, France — In a significant ruling, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Russia’s legislation that classifies NGOs, media organizations, and individuals as “foreign agents,” finding the laws overly vague and infringing upon freedom of expression and privacy rights. This decision underscored the growing international concern over such regulations that target civil society groups. The case, termed “Kobaliya and Others v. Russia,” involved 107 applicants including NGOs and private individuals, who argued that their designation as ‘foreign agents’ under Russian law hampered their rights to free expression. ARTICLE 19, a group advocating for freedom … Read more

Supreme Court to Hear Landmark Cases on Free Speech and Social Media: What it Means for Online Expression

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a series of cases involving free speech and social media this year. One case in particular, Murthy v. Missouri, has drawn attention as it revolves around President Joe Biden’s administration urging platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook to remove posts spreading misinformation about the pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, and five social media users are bringing the lawsuit, arguing that the government exceeded its authority and violated constitutional free speech rights by censoring posts … Read more

Missouri House Committee to Review Bills Increasing Restrictions on Gender Expression

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri House Committee on Emerging Issues is set to examine multiple pieces of legislation that could significantly impact the expression of gender identity in the state. These bills propose restrictions on gender-related accommodations in schools and workplaces, sparking debate on the boundaries of gender identity. One collection of proposed bills would require schools across Missouri to provide facilities such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms that are segregated by biological sex. Violations of this requirement could result in legal actions against schools. Similarly, another bill aims to extend this … Read more

Judge Upholds Freedom of Expression: Key Restriction Lifted on Controversial Book Ban Law Impacting Elie Wiesel’s ‘Night’

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A federal judge in Wichita, Kansas has ruled to block a “bizarre” book ban law that aimed to restrict access to Elie Wiesel’s memoir “Night.” The legislation was intended to prevent students up to the 12th grade from being exposed to books containing sexual content or explicit language. Judge Julie Robinson deemed the law unconstitutional, stating that it violated the First Amendment rights of students and teachers. The book ban law was introduced in July 2020 by the Kansas legislature. It targeted over 60 books, including classic novels like “The Catcher in the Rye” and … Read more