Analysis

Facing mass protests, Iran relies on familiar tools of state violence and internet blackouts

January 28, 2026

From Iran’s internet blackouts to Australia’s expanding hate laws, governments worldwide are tightening control over speech and dissent.

Statement

FIRE statement on calls to ban X in EU, UK

January 15, 2026

Senior United Kingdom government officials and members of the European Parliament have threatened to ban the social media platform X in response to a proliferation of sexualized images on the platform.

Op-Ed

Online speech is powerful. That’s why Iran is silencing it.

January 14, 2026

Iran is killing protesters and cutting the internet to hide it. Censorship spreads globally—and democracies are flirting with dangerous tools.

Analysis

Repression deepens in Hong Kong with Jimmy Lai’s guilty verdict and censorship over deadly Wang Fuk Court fire

December 17, 2025

Hong Kong jails Jimmy Lai, UK prosecutors seek to reverse a free speech victory, and a new U.S. border policy could export self-censorship worldwide.

Analysis

UK university censors human rights research on abuses in China

November 18, 2025

China-related censorship ripples worldwide, from UK academia to NYC film screens — plus fresh crackdowns, bold resistance, and rare wins for free expression.

Analysis

High-profile comedians paid handsomely to not offend Saudi royals at Riyadh comedy fest

October 22, 2025

From Saudi censorship and UK arrests to China’s digital clampdown, free speech faces global pressure — and some unexpected twists.

Analysis

Heckler’s veto at the turnstiles

October 21, 2025

The UK is banning fans of an Israeli soccer team, citing security concerns. Safety matters, but the law protects both fans and protesters alike.

Analysis

Quebec is threatening to outlaw public prayer

September 24, 2025

Quebec eyes a possible ban on public prayer as UK arrests surge in this week's global roundup of free speech crackdowns and rare wins.

Analysis

The United Kingdom needs a new generation of Levellers

September 8, 2025

The country once boasted a proud tradition of free speech, but it’s being eviscerated one arrest at a time.

Analysis

Chinese officials force censorship of Thai gallery’s art exhibit about authoritarianism (proving the exhibit’s point)

August 25, 2025

China censors Thai art show on authoritarianism, Hong Kong cites U.S. crackdowns to justify jailing Jimmy Lai, and T-shirts get people in trouble in Venezuela and Morocco