All articles tagged with #censorship
AP reports a crackdown on independent media ahead of Kazakhstan's parliamentary elections, including a criminal case against journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov for listing Kazakh citizens fighting in Ukraine; authorities pressure blogs and outlets, and pro-presidential posters are seen in major cities, signaling intensified media pressure as the vote approaches.
A fired editor of the Stars and Stripes military newspaper alleges Pentagon pressure on coverage, raising concerns about censorship and calling for greater transparency and protections for journalists covering the military.
The editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, Erik Slavin, along with a reporter and the paper’s publisher, was fired by the DoD for insubordination after an interview suggesting censorship could be a red line. Slavin warns of a chilling climate with less on-the-record Pentagon commentary, while the DoD declined to comment and the paper’s independence remains under scrutiny.
A New York Liberty fan paid $100 for a halftime scoreboard message honoring Jennifer Sey and XX-XY Athletics, which the team initially approved before changing the wording a day before the game. The Liberty refunded the payment and cited policy constraints, prompting the fan to allege censorship and vow to support the Fever and other women’s-sports groups instead. The incident feeds broader debates about fan expression at WNBA games.
ABC and Disney filed a lawsuit against the FCC, alleging that the agency’s early review of their broadcast licenses violates the First Amendment and constitutes a retaliatory political campaign tied to the Trump administration’s disapproval of their programming, intensifying a feud that has already drawn in Jimmy Kimmel, The View, and scrutiny of diversity and equal-time rules in ABC’s operations.
A feature on Steam’s opaque content-review process for games with sexual content, where developers report lengthy reviews, requests to disclose or isolate explicit scenes, and the potential chilling effect on storytelling. The piece ties these gatekeeping practices to broader regulatory and platform-monetary pressures, with creators fearing reduced accessibility and uncertainty over what gets released or sold on Steam.
Ken Russell’s 1971 shocker The Devils will be released in an uncut NC-17 cut with a new 4K restoration for a one-week theatrical run starting October 14, 2026, after Warner Bros. long held back the private 2004 director’s cut; the film’s controversial depictions of blasphemy and sexual content, based on Aldous Huxley’s The Devils of Loudun, are being presented as Russell’s definitive vision, reigniting debates about censorship and artistic intent.
BioWare wanted a character to say 'damn' in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, but Lucasfilm vetoed it, arguing that Star Wars characters don’t say that word. A writer cataloged every usage in the films, yet the licensing decision prevailed, underscoring how licensing controls shape dialogue in licensed games.
A Moscow court barred Yabloko, Russia's sole liberal anti-war party, from the upcoming parliamentary elections after a suit by pro-Kremlin Rodina alleging extremism and copyright violations, expelling a key opposition candidate as dissent is increasingly suppressed ahead of a vote many expect to favor the Kremlin.
A Fox Business investigation finds Coca-Cola’s 18-character can-personalization tool inconsistently blocks religious and political phrases (e.g., 'Jesus is Lord', 'Make America Great') while allowing others like 'Defund the Police' and 'Proud Boys'; alarms rise after reports that 'Pedophile Pride' and 'MAP Pride' were permitted. Coca‑Cola says the issue is technical, has paused new orders, and is reviewing moderation rules.
Taylor Swift blocked Donald Trump from using her music on TikTok after a Team Trump post used her song 'august,' marking her first public action against him on social media. Earlier posts using her music did not prompt a response. Swift’s ownership of her masters and publishing gives her power to remove or restrict uses on platforms, and Consequence said they had reached out to her reps for comment.
During a Baldur's Gate 3 livestream, moderators flagged content for 'Body Exposure and Sexualized Behaviors,' triggering memes and a broader debate about censorship and the game's mature content, including discussion of nudity settings and a remark from a host praising a bold scene.
Boris Nadezhdin, one of Russia’s leading anti-war politicians, fled the country and announced his arrival in France after being barred from parliamentary elections this fall, posting a Paris video saying he’s alive and free as Kremlin crackdowns on dissent intensify ahead of voting.
British trip-hop group Massive Attack says Singapore barred them from performing after they displayed a Palestinian flag and led a crowd chant of 'Free Palestine' at a July 29 show, with police detaining members and some passport seizures; the ban stems from Singapore’s public-speech rules banning foreign emblems without a permit. The band frames the act as spontaneous solidarity and criticizes restrictions on civil rights, urging ratification of the UN ICCPR and protection of expression.
Massive Attack were detained and questioned by Singaporean police after two members displayed a Palestinian flag and led chants during a July show; authorities subsequently banned them from returning or performing in Singapore, saying they would not be allowed to re-enter, with the band describing the incident as surreal and noting the display reportedly violated laws on foreign flags and political expression.