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Greg: Brandeis’ Censorship Problem Didn’t Begin with Hirsi Ali
Last week, Brandeis University reversed its decision to grant an honorary degree to women’s rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali because of her criticism of Islam. It is unfortunate that Brandeis’ class of 2014 was denied the opportunity to hear Hirsi Ali speak at commencement, but the controversy is a symptom of a much deeper problem—both at Brandeis and across the country. FIRE President Greg Lukianoff puts the incident in context in an article for The Huffington Post today with a reminder of Brandeis’ worrying past on free speech issues and of what’s at stake for the future.
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Say it with a song
Satire’s sweetest assassin sang about nukes, nuns, and naughty books — with a smile. In this tribute, Angela C. Erickson remembers the razor-sharp wit and fearless free speech of America’s most charming troublemaker.
Will free expression make a comeback at Haverford College?
Known for its principled activism, Haverford has recently become a cautionary tale of campus censorship. But a new committee report signals a turning point — and a chance to restore its proud tradition.
FIRE statement on FCC approval of Skydance-Paramount acquisition
The FCC has no business dictating the editorial choices of media outlets or conditioning merger approval on the viewpoints a network chooses to air.
The mercenary spyware industry is a menace to global free expression
As authoritarian regimes weaponize commercial spyware to silence critics, a booming mercenary surveillance industry thrives in the shadows — and even democracies aren’t immune.