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Thursday 21 September 2023 Dublin: 13°C

# Freedom of Speech

All time
Media blackout in Poland to protest new ad tax
State media outlets would be exempt from the tax.
Three arrested after anti-racism, free speech protests outside Leinster House
A man in his early 40s has been charged and is due to appear before court at a later date.
Calls for repeal of Censorship Act following cancellation of drag storytelling event
The coalition has called for the act to be repealed “in the name of personal freedom and mutual respect.”
Supreme Court told that judges have no power to decide if Dáil privilege is being used correctly
Denis O’Brien’s legal team has argued that TDs’ “extraordinary privilege” had led to a breach of his privacy in 2015.
US journalist charged with attempting to overthrow Robert Mugabe after calling him 'selfish and sick'
Martha O’Donovan, who works in Zimbabwe, has been remanded in custody.
In China, parodying the national anthem could now put you in jail for 15 days
Under the new law, the song can no longer be used as background music in public places.
Charlie Hebdo publishes controversial cartoon of drowned Syrian toddler
Some people claim the images mock Aylan Kurdi.
Senator says cyberbullying bill could silence people like Mairia Cahill
Under the proposed law, a person could face 12 months in jail or a €5,000 fine.
The 'gay cake' row and freedom of speech: Being offended isn't a right
The trouble with trying to put limits on free speech and the freedom of conscience is that you inevitably wind up tying yourself in knots.
Second blogger 'brutally hacked to death' in Bangladesh
He had criticised fundamentalist Islamic views.
Opinion: Islam must be treated like Christianity in Europe – accepted, revered and lambasted
It is up to moderate people to have an open debate about religion and society. Otherwise, extremists will have it for us.
Charlie Hebdo's history of lampooning Islamic extremism (and religion as a whole)
The magazine has been attacked before.
A 16-year-old schoolboy was arrested in Turkey for insulting the country's president
He faces up to four years in prison for accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of corruption.
Opinion: The killing and imprisonment of journalists should concern us all
Worrying press arrests in Ferguson and the grisly murder of James Foley underlines it is in all of our interests to ensure journalists can report without fear.
Opinion: Ireland’s record on civil and political rights comes under the UN spotlight
While progress has been made in some areas, long-standing human rights issues persist in Ireland including gender-based violence and a systemic delay in processing asylum applications.
US Supreme Court divided but the right to pray at Government meetings stays
At issue were town meetings in Greece, New York, where clergy had been invited to offer a prayer, which in the last eight years had been exclusively Christian.
Global censorship could end in a decade says Google boss
Eric Schmidt believes that better encryption methods will help prevent governments from restricting freedom of expression.
Column: Why it's time to get rid of Ireland's blasphemy laws
Blasphemy laws have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and have no place in a modern democracy like Ireland, writes Michael Nugent.
Column: Striking the balance between freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial
Public interest, freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial: all these factors form a carefully-balanced relationship between the media and criminal justice system. But just how clear-cut is the law? asks Fergal Crehan.
Aaron McKenna: Regulate social media? No – we need a free speech law
There are troubling restrictions on our free expression in Ireland. We should follow the US and give it explicit protection – even if that means some vitriol.
British man wins High Court appeal after being docked pay over Facebook posts
Adrian Smith worked for a government housing body when he posted statements against gay marriage in churches.
Column: If you read something offensive, don’t retweet it, report it
The future of the internet depends on social networks like Facebook and Twitter developing better protocols for dealing with offensive and potentially criminal postings, writes Dr Ciarán Mc Mahon.
Twitter blocks access to neo-Nazi account for German users
It’s the first time the social media site has implemented its local censorship policy, which was first announced in January.
Poll: Should the Mohammed cartoons have been published?
As fears of protests grow after controversial cartoons of Mohammed appeared in a French magazine, we ask: Should they have been published?
Burma's government ends direct media censorship
Under the new rules, journalists will no longer have to submit their work to state censors before publication.
Pussy Riot trial reaction: band members' conviction criticised by EU, US
Two-year sentence for hooliganism conviction criticised as ‘disproportionate’ and impacting on freedom of expression.
Pussy Riot members sentenced to two years in prison
Three band members of the feminist punk group have been found guilty of “hoolganism motivated by religious hatred”.
Russia: Deputy PM slams Madonna on Twitter for Pussy Riot support
Dmitry Rogozin accused the singer of moral lecturing, adding: “Either take off the cross or put on pants”.
Should swearing in public be a fineable offence?
A town in Massachusetts has decided to force the foul-mouthed among them to pay fines for swearing in public. Should we follow suit?
'Vital' role of journalists stressed ahead of World Press Freedom Day
The National Union of Journalists and Amnesty International Ireland joined together today to remember journalists who have been killed during the course of their work.
Man given choice of posting apology on Facebook - or spending 60 days in jail
Court ruling came after man posted comments about his estranged wife on the social network.
Poll: Should governments be able to block social network users?
In the wake of this week’s violence in England and David Cameron’s Commons speech yesterday, we’re asking for your views on curtailing social network use.
'God hates fags' family face Supreme Court action
The infamous Phelps family of the Westboro Baptist Church are brought to court over protests at military funerals.
Philadelphia businesses condemn $50 ‘blogging tax’
Bloggers in the original US capital complain about new rules which classify blogs as businesses.