Tag: Censorship
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Union Government Blocks 19 Films at IFFK 2025, Including Palestine Titles and Potemkin
Overview: A decision that rattles a major film festival The 2025 International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) has been disrupted by a government decision that blocks screening permissions for 19 films, according to official notices from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Among the blocked titles are films centered on Palestinian stories and the…
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Police Right to Preview: Editorial Changes in Documentary Contracts
Understanding the Clause: What Does ‘Right to Preview’ Mean? When a production contract for a documentary includes a clause that allows law enforcement to preview the final cut, it raises fundamental questions about editorial independence and public accountability. In practice, this means police or other authorities can review raw footage or a rough cut before…
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The Words You Can’t Say on the Internet: How Platforms Shape Speech
Introduction: The Whispered Rulebook of the Digital World Every so often, a new rumor circulates: there are words you simply cannot say on the internet. The idea sticks because it captures a real tension between free expression and platform safety. From innocuous euphemisms to coded terms, the online ecosystem constantly negotiates which phrases are allowed,…
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An Uncertain Future for the Global Internet: What Freedom on the Net 2025 Reveals
Overview: A Gloomy Snapshot for Global Internet Freedom Every year, Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net report surveys the state of online rights in dozens of countries. The 2025 edition paints a troubling picture: the global internet freedom index has fallen for the 15th consecutive year. While some countries improved, the overall trend shows increased…
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An Uncertain Future for the Global Internet: Key Findings from Freedom on the Net 2025
Overview: A Persistent Slide in Online Freedoms The latest edition of Freedom on the Net, released for 2025, paints a sobering picture of the global internet landscape. For the 15th consecutive year, overall internet freedom has weakened, with 28 out of 72 studied countries showing deteriorated conditions. In contrast, 17 countries recorded gains, underscoring a…
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An Uncertain Future for the Global Internet
Overview: A Declining Trend in Global Internet Freedom The latest edition of Freedom on the Net 2025 paints a sobering picture: internet freedom around the world has declined for the 15th consecutive year. Among the 72 countries assessed, conditions deteriorated in 28, while 17 showed gains. The trend signals growing challenges for digital rights, online…
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China Removes Blued and Finka, Two Leading Gay Dating Apps, from App Stores
Overview: Apple Removes Popular Gay Dating Apps in China In a move that highlights the evolving landscape of online content regulation in China, Apple confirmed that it has removed two of the country’s most popular gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its iOS App Store. The removals come after an order from Chinese authorities,…
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Latvia and the Soviet Philosophical Legacy: Threads in Literature, Thought, and Memory
Understanding the Soviet Philosophical Footprint in Latvia Latvia’s intellectual landscape bears the imprint of decades of Soviet influence, where philosophy was often channeled through party doctrine, state ideology, and controlled discourse. Researchers gathering this week will examine how Soviet philosophy permeated Latvian thought, shaping the way writers, scholars, and critics approached truth, history, and societal…
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Margaret Atwood Speaks Truth to Power: Banned Books, Trump, and a Memoir That Settles Scores
Behind Closed Doors and Public Defiance Renowned author Margaret Atwood has spent decades shaping conversations about power, censorship, and the moral responsibilities of writers. In a recent disclosure-rich interview, she addresses how the climate around the presidency—specifically the Trump era—urgently tested the boundaries between literature and politics. For Atwood, the answer to oppression is not…
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Margaret Atwood on Defying Trump, Banned Books, and a Memoir That Settles Scores
Defiance in the Pages: Atwood’s Unflinching Stance In an era when literature faces heightened scrutiny, Margaret Atwood remains a steady compass for readers seeking truth in fiction. The author of The Handmaid’s Tale has long used her platform to challenge power, question censorship, and defend the transformative potential of banned or controversial books. In recent…