U.S. National Archives: 'We made a mistake' altering Trump photos
The National Archives said Saturday it made a mistake when it blurred images of anti-Trump signs used in an exhibit on women's suffrage. The independent agency is charged with preserving government and historical records and said it has always been committed to preserving its holdings ...
Bangladesh issues warrant for newspaper editor over death at rally
A Bangladesh court Thursday issued an arrest warrant for the country's most respected independent newspaper editor after a student was killed at an event organized by a sister publication. Matiur Rahman, editor of the Prothom Alo daily, is an outspoken champion of freedom of expression ...
When is a photograph of nude bodies artistic or titillating? A woman's exposed nipple a political statement or erotica? A video of childbirth might show genitalia. Should what someone considers a celebration of life be censored? In 1964, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart declined to ...
Japanese response to alleged global Chinese assault on rights 'lukewarm,' rights group says
Human Rights Watch released a scathing report Wednesday slamming the Chinese government for crafting an "Orwellian high-tech surveillance state" at home and deploying its growing economic clout to silence its critics overseas, while an official with the group criticized Japan's response to alleged rights ...
U.N. greenlights Russia's cybercrime convention resolution, alarming rights advocates
The United Nations on Friday approved a Russian-led resolution that aims to create a new convention on cybercrime, alarming rights groups and Western powers that fear it is an attempt to restrict freedom online. The General Assembly approved the resolution, sponsored by Russia and backed ...
The Turkish Constitutional Court ruled Thursday that blocking access to online encyclopedia Wikipedia within Turkey is a violation of freedom of expression, a lawyer representing the organization and various media reports said. The ruling opens the way for lifting the block on the website, which ...
Change to Chinese university's charter dropping 'freedom of thought' stirs debate
Changes to the charter of one of China's top universities — dropping the phrase "freedom of thought" and adding a pledge to follow the Communist Party's leadership — have sparked heated debate and a rare act of student defiance. The changes to the charter of ...
Controversial art festival with 'comfort women' statue had 'many faults,' says Aichi review panel
A review panel formed by the Aichi Prefectural Government has slammed a high-profile art festival held every three years in the prefecture, saying that the event, which sparked controversy for featuring a statue symbolizing "comfort women," had many faults in its displays and preparations. The ...
Creative expression stifled by 'safety concerns' in Japan
As the taboo-busting comic Joan Rivers used to say after pressing her audience's buttons, "Can we talk?" On the evidence of this year's Aichi Triennale, if it's about World War II atrocities, the answer seems to be "no."
China imprisoned more journalists than any other country this year, report says
China imprisoned at least 48 journalists in 2019, more than any other country, displacing Turkey as the most oppressive place for the profession, a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists report said on Wednesday. At least 250 journalists were imprisoned worldwide this year, according ...
A TikTok craze is minting celebrities and ruining lives in India
Arpita Chaudhary, a newly recruited police constable in India's western Gujarat state, became an overnight celebrity after posting a clip of a 15-second gambol — clad in her civvies — on the hit social video app TikTok. Then she paid the price. A snippet of ...
China seeks to root out fake news and deepfakes with new online content rules
Chinese regulators have announced new rules governing video and audio content online, including a ban on the publishing and distribution of "fake news" created with technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality. Any use of AI or virtual reality also needs to be clearly ...
