Record 12,000 School Book Bans Driven by AI and State Laws in 2025-26
PEN America reports a record 11,982 book bans in U.S. public schools for the 2025-26 year, with Texas and Florida leading due to new laws and AI-driven removals.
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Censorship
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Research reveals embedded censorship in Alibaba's Qwen AI, prompting calls for 'Westernized' model edits
New research indicates that Alibaba's Qwen, the world's most downloaded free AI model, contains embedded censorship and pro-government bias. While U.S. firms like Uber and Airbnb rely on Qwen for cost savings, security experts warn that its outputs on sensitive topics align with Chinese state narratives. An Israeli firm claims it can remove this bias through 'AI brain surgery,' though experts debate the efficacy and risks of such modifications.
Egypt Detains Entire Matsadaash Newsroom, Citing Muslim Brotherhood Ties
Egyptian authorities arrested the six-member editorial team of independent outlet Matsadaash, accusing them of being Muslim Brotherhood members. Rights groups condemn the move as a severe crackdown on press freedom, while the government claims the outlet produces fabricated news.
Iranian Appeals Court Finalizes 74-Lash Sentence for Singer Parastoo Ahmadi
An Iranian appeals court has upheld a sentence of 74 lashes and a two-year ban on audiovisual activities for singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight members of her production team. The punishment stems from a December 2024 online concert where Ahmadi performed without the mandatory hijab. The decision, finalized without a hearing, has drawn condemnation from international rights groups who describe flogging as torture, while Iranian officials frame the ruling as a necessary deterrent against violations of cultural norms.
Iranian Court Finalizes 74-Lash Sentence for Singer Parastoo Ahmadi
An Iranian appeals court has upheld a sentence of 74 lashes and a two-year ban on audiovisual activities for singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight associates. The ruling follows her December 2024 livestreamed concert, where she performed without the mandatory hijab. The decision was finalized without a hearing, drawing condemnation from human rights groups and Iranian artists.
Iran Launches Criminal Case Against Theater Over Stage Embrace
Iranian prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into a theater company after a spectator’s video showed an actress resting her head on a co-star’s chest during a performance. Authorities deemed the physical contact a violation of social norms, though the production argues the characters are siblings and the angle was misleading.
Trump proposes external watchdog to veto NIH grants on ideological grounds
Trump reportedly plans an external, unanimous-approval panel to review NIH grant awards and veto those that do not align with the administration’s political priorities, a move critics say amounts to censorship and departs from merit-based funding, amid lawsuits and a backdrop of funding cuts and scrutiny of research topics.
Israel Moves to Strip Citizenship From NAZA Directors Over Venice Doc
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would introduce two Knesset bills aimed at punishing the directors of the Venice prize‑winning NAZA documentary: one to revoke anyone’s citizenship who slanders IDF soldiers, and another to raise defamation damages twentyfold. The targets are Israeli co‑directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, with Culture Minister Miki Zohar backing the threat and former PM Naftali Bennett criticizing the film. NAZA earned a 25‑minute standing ovation at Venice and won the festival’s Special Jury Prize; the documentary examines collateral damage in Israeli military actions, prompting accusations of censorship and political pressure.
Steam Reverses Adult Rating for Wadjet Eye's Nighthawks After Rating Controversy
Wadjet Eye Games’ Nighthawks was given an adults-only rating by Steam just before its Sept. 22 launch, hurting its discoverability in searches and some countries; the content was described as mild romance bits, not porn. Steam later reversed the rating, giving the game broader visibility and a net positive outcome despite the scare.
Mulaney’s Emmy Moment Steals the Show Despite NBC Censorship
John Mulaney delivered a crowd-pleasing, culture-warting bit at the Emmys skewering Hollywood masculinity, using sharp jokes and a library-book prop; NBC reportedly censored the line about “real men” not going down on their wives, but the moment still dominated the night and helped cement Mulaney’s top moment of the broadcast.
Talarico Interview Sparks Viral Uptick on Kimmel’s YouTube Amid FCC Claims
Jimmy Kimmel’s 21‑minute interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico quickly became the second-most viewed video on the show’s YouTube channel for 2026, released directly online after Kimmel cited “threats” from the FCC; the White House says no such threats occurred, and YouTube’s updated long-form view count is noted as part of the metric. ABC/Kimmel are also reportedly negotiating renewal beyond the 2026–27 season.
Macklemore ousted from Ed Sheeran tour over Palestine remarks
Rapper Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour after pro-Palestine comments; promoters said venues wouldn’t allow him to perform, following pressure from stadium owners including Robert Kraft who reportedly issued an ultimatum to Sheeran. Macklemore said he spoke with Sheeran and would continue advocating for Palestine, posting “Free Palestine.”
Kimmel Takes Aim at FCC With an ‘Unnecessary Censorship’ Bit Over Interview Ban
On his ABC show, Jimmy Kimmel mocked the FCC by launching an 'exceptionally appropriate' edition of This Week in Unnecessary Censorship after the agency allegedly pressured him to grant equal-time access to all candidates; he noted the interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico would instead live on YouTube due to these threats, while the White House denied any such threats. The bit sat alongside jokes about Donald Trump’s bribes and the RNC crowd size, framing a broader clash over free speech and access on TV.
Kimmel’s Talarico Interview Sparks White House-FCC Censorship Clash
Jimmy Kimmel canceled airing his interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico after claiming threats from the Trump administration to the FCC; the White House denied pressuring him and accused Kimmel of fomenting a false narrative, while Disney’s FCC license-review fight and past instances with late-night hosts frame a broader debate over press freedom and access to candidates; the full interview will still be posted on YouTube.
Disaster reporting throttled by China's Clean Internet drive amid Nepal-Tibet floods
Chinese authorities are using the Clean Internet 2026 campaign to label unofficial flood reports as ‘rumours,’ censor posts on platforms like WeChat, and penalize users who share alternative casualty figures, in a bid to control disaster narratives while critics argue the move suppresses independent reporting and conceals the true toll on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border.