# freedom of expression (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 6 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover freedom of expression. Page: Feed: --- ## [US/Ecuador Operation Revealed to Commit Severe Human Rights Abuses](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/us-ecuador-operation-revealed-to-commit-severe-human-rights-abuses) _2026-08-22 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Aahana Negwakar August 21, 2026 HRRC condemns the human rights abuses being committed on innocent civilians at the Colombia-Ecuador border. Both governments (Ecuador and US) must take accountability and implement real safeguards to protect the general public. \[Image credit: Wikimedia Commons\] A 94-page Human Rights Watch report, published in July, discusses findings of blatant human rights… ## [The Return of Fujimorism: What Keiko Fujimori’s Presidency Means for Memory and Impunity in Peru](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/the-return-of-fujimorism-what-keiko-fujimori-s-presidency-means-for-memory-and-impunity-in-peru) _2026-08-21 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Maria Fe Mendoza August 21, 2026 HRRC urges the Peruvian government to ensure that efforts to combat organized crime do not come at the expense of human rights, democratic institutions, or accountability. We call for the maintenance of strong institutional checks and civilian oversight over the use of state power, particularly the involvement of the armed forces in domestic security, and… ## [India Honour Killings Expose Gaps in Law](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/india-honour-killings-expose-gaps-in-law) _2026-08-21 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Srijita Mukherjee August 21, 2026 HRRC condemns honour killings and emphasizes that young women should never have to fear making their own life choices, exercising bodily autonomy, or choosing their own partners. The murder of these women highlights the dangers women face when patriarchal family structures act under the guise of preserving social reputation. We encourage the Parliament of… ## [Cognitive Integration on the Battlefield: Can the Human Brain Survive Emerging Neuro-Warfare?](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/cognitive-integration-on-the-battlefield-can-the-human-brain-survive-emerging-neuro-warfare) _2026-08-21 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Javeria Ali August 21, 2026 \[Image credit: Steve A Johnson/Unsplash\] Introduction Traditionally accepted domains of military strategy — namely air, land, sea, space, and cyber — have been joined by a new domain: the human brain. Popularly recognized as a form of ‘cognitive warfare’, the term’s definition varies widely, which is pivotal to the context in which it is used, as there is no… ## [The Rise of the Far Right in Latin America and the Role of the United States](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/the-rise-of-the-far-right-in-latin-america-and-the-role-of-the-united-states) _2026-08-20 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Olivia Weninger August 20, 2026 Colombian President-Elect, Abelardo de la Espriella \[Image credit: Wikimedia Commons\] On Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026, Colombia’s President-Elect and political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella officially won the election by the narrowest presidential margin in Colombian history, with only 250,830 votes separating the two candidates (Al Jazeera, 2026). While de… ## [AI Safety Protester Jailed as Political Pressure and Public Backlash Over AI Intensify](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/ai-safety-protester-jailed-as-political-pressure-and-public-backlash-over-ai-intensify) _2026-08-19 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Aamnah Fatima Khan August 19, 2026 HRRC condemns the imprisonment of Wynd Kaufmyn for participating in a non-violent protest raising concerns about the risks of unchecked artificial intelligence development. We call for the protection of peaceful protest and freedom of expression and urge authorities to ensure that activists are not disproportionately punished for exercising these… ## [Cultural Rights and Cinematic Heritage: Framing Film Restitution as a Human Right](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/cultural-rights-and-cinematic-heritage-framing-film-restitution-as-a-human-right) _2026-08-19 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Pauline Kuranchie August 19, 2026 Paulin Soumanou Vieyra (1925-1987), a Benin-born Senegalese filmmaker, producer, and film historian. He is a key figure in West African film history and one of the earliest voices to articulate the demand for the restitution of Africa’s film and audiovisual heritage. \[Source: Criterion Collection\] From Egypt’s Rosetta Stone, Nigeria’s Benin Bronzes, and… ## [Lebanon Becomes First Arab Country to Abolish the Death Penalty](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/lebanon-becomes-first-arab-country-to-abolish-the-death-penalty) _2026-08-19 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Raisa Hamlin August 19, 2026 HRRC welcomes Lebanon’s move toward abolishing the death penalty as an important step in protecting the right to life and human dignity. We encourage Lebanese authorities to complete the formal abolition of capital punishment and ensure that replacement sentences respect international human rights standards. Lebanon Parliament Building \[Image Credit:… ## [Digital Trade Alignment: What May Be in Play in the Canada-U.S. Trade Deal](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/08/digital-trade-alignment-what-may-be-in-play-in-the-canada-u-s-trade-deal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=digital-trade-alignment-what-may-be-in-play-in-the-canada-u-s-trade-deal) _2026-08-19 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ Less than two hours before new U.S. tariffs on Canada were set to take effect, U.S. President Trump last night announced a three-day pause, claiming there is a deal “subject to the finalization of documents.” Prime Minister Carney released a statement saying that substantial progress had been made, without offering much detail. But a congratulatory tweet from the U.S. Trade Representative offered… ## [Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges, Renewing Debate Over Healthcare Access and Justice](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/luigi-mangione-pleads-guilty-to-federal-charges-renewing-debate-over-healthcare-access-and-justice) _2026-08-18 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Christine Savino August 18, 2026 HRRC believes that justice requires both accountability for violent crimes and the protection of fundamental human rights through fair legal proceedings. At the same time, HRRC recognizes that access to healthcare is a human rights issue, particularly when financial barriers, insurance denials, and unequal access to treatment leave individuals without… ## [PixelRift — Platforming with Level Editor (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/Zeo9MmoJ9DOM) _2026-08-18 · **Sponsored**_ Includes a built-in level editor, campaign with elemental heroes, and boss encounters. ## [The Security and Humanitarian Nexus of Illicit Activity by Non-State and Threat Actors](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/the-security-and-humanitarian-nexus-of-illicit-activity-by-non-state-and-threat-actors) _2026-08-18 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Anonymous August 18, 2026 \[Image source: ub emerging practices/Openverse\] Overview Certain state and non-state actors have, and will continue to use grey zone 1, 2, 3 tactics, clandestine proxies, and protracted illicit operations to exploit humanitarian disasters, contributing to insecurity, economic, and/or political fragmentation, as it affords them opportunities to cement their own… ## [Two Women Died Mysteriously in Police Custody in Lahore, Pakistan](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/two-women-died-mysteriously-in-police-custody-in-lahore-pakistan) _2026-08-18 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Eman Butt August 18, 2026 HRRC is concerned by the deaths of two women in police custody and calls on Pakistani authorities to ensure that police stations serve as places of safety and protection. As a state party to international human rights treaties, Pakistan must ensure that its law enforcement departments comply with their national and international obligations to protect and respect… ## [TMU Picks Damage Control Over Fixing the Damage: Behind Its Shameful Response to the Devastating Benotto Report on Campus Antisemitism](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/08/tmuantisemitism/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tmuantisemitism) _2026-08-18 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ Last fall, two incidents at Toronto Metropolitan University attracted national attention: the September 2025 disruption by the group Students for Justice in Palestine at TMU of a Democracy Forum event featuring federal AI minister Evan Solomon that ended in an arrest, and the November 2025 storming of an off-campus event hosted by Students Supporting Israel that left the speaker hospitalized. TMU… ## [Thanks For Joining the Movement: French Constitutional Council Strikes Down Kids’ Social Media Ban](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/08/thanks-for-joining-the-movement-french-constitutional-council-strikes-down-kids-social-media-ban/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thanks-for-joining-the-movement-french-constitutional-council-strikes-down-kids-social-media-ban) _2026-08-17 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ French President Emmanuel Macron has been the global leader in promoting a ban on social media for kids, consistently welcoming countries that propose such measures with a “thanks for joining the movement” tweet . That includes Canada, which received its congratulatory tweet after a ban was included in Bill C-34 . As I argued last month , however, I believe the Canadian ban is vulnerable to… ## [UN Investigators Claim Myanmar's Military is Deliberately Targeting Civilians](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/un-investigators-claim-myanmar-s-military-is-deliberately-targeting-civilians) _2026-08-14 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Aahana Nagwekar August 14, 2026 HRRC condemns the Myanmar Military’s attacks on innocent civilians. It is imperative that the Myanmar government immediately cease its human rights violations, protect civilians from harm, and take accountability for the violence throughout the country. \[Image credit: Stephen Brookes/Flikr\] United Nations investigators have documented a sustained campaign of… ## [Decriminalising Sex Work in Thailand](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/decriminalising-sex-work-in-thailand) _2026-08-14 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Srijita Mukherjee August 14, 2026 HRRC calls on the tie government and prime minister to immediately endorse and pass the sex work protection bill which fully discriminalises sex work and recognizes sex workers under the national labour laws. HRRC emphasizes that every individual has the right to live, safety and legal protection regardless of their status. We denounce laws that enable… ## [Delayed Reforms in Zambia Threaten Human Rights Progress](https://www.humanrightsresearch.org/post/delayed-reforms-in-zambia-threaten-human-rights-progress) _2026-08-13 · Human Rights Research Center · Human Rights Research Center (HRRC)_ Author: Faryal Fatima August 13, 2026 HRRC condemns the use of restrictive laws and practices to suppress human rights and civic participation. We support international calls for Zambia to repeal or amend laws that undermine freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and the press. We urge the government to uphold its national and international human rights obligations. A Zambian woman… ## [Denial, Hate, and Silence: The Three Responses to Overwhelming Evidence of Canada’s Campus Antisemitism Crisis](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/08/denial-hate-and-silence-the-three-responses-to-overwhelming-evidence-of-canadas-campus-antisemitism-crisis/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=denial-hate-and-silence-the-three-responses-to-overwhelming-evidence-of-canadas-campus-antisemitism-crisis) _2026-08-12 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ One week ago, the release of the Campus Antisemitism and Student Experiences (CASE) report provided the most comprehensive national data to date on antisemitism on Canadian university campuses. As I wrote in my post on it , there is a crisis: of the more than 900 Jewish students surveyed, 95.7% experienced or witnessed antisemitism over the previous year, 72% limit what they say in class, 57%… ## [The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 278: Ben Waldman on Gander Social and the Challenges of Building a Sovereign Social Network](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/08/the-law-bytes-podcast-episode-278-ben-waldman-on-gander-social-and-the-challenges-of-building-a-sovereign-social-network/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-law-bytes-podcast-episode-278-ben-waldman-on-gander-social-and-the-challenges-of-building-a-sovereign-social-network) _2026-08-10 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ Sovereignty, whether digital sovereignty, data sovereignty, or AI sovereignty, has been the hot-button issue in Canada for months. Governments have shifted policies in hopes of addressing the issue, the public has expressed interest in Canadian alternatives, and the business community has rushed to meet that interest. But what does it actually take to create a true, sovereign alternative? We now… [Listen](https://episodes.castos.com/lawbytes/2557746/c1e-rzxdao0pq3s23ng7-0v4909g0hrnz-l8uax6.mp3) ## [Canada’s Campus Antisemitism Crisis: National Survey Finds Antisemitism Nearly Everywhere and University Responses Nowhere](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/08/caseantisemitismsurvey/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=caseantisemitismsurvey) _2026-08-06 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ For the better part of two years, I have written about antisemitism on Canadian university campuses from the vantage point of personal experience: a post I never thought I would need to write on the right of Jewish students to feel safe on campus, the normalization of antisemitism at encampments including at my own university, the trepidation that accompanied a new academic year , and the chilling… ## [Accept your Doppler invite (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/BcwjjbLAj0oA) _2026-08-06 · **Sponsored**_ Create your Doppler account using the invite code you received. ## [Why the Answers to Hateful Content Online are Hiding in the Platforms’ Own Rules](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/08/why-the-answers-to-hateful-content-online-are-hiding-in-the-platforms-own-rules/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-the-answers-to-hateful-content-online-are-hiding-in-the-platforms-own-rules) _2026-08-04 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ The Canadian government has a two-pronged legal strategy to counter rising hate: New Criminal Code provisions to address offline harms, such as intimidation or protests outside schools and places of worship, and the digital safety bill introduced in June, which targets online harms. A new legal duty to act responsibly , which would require internet platforms to publish digital safety plans,… ## [From CCH to ChatGPT: How Canadian Copyright Law Played the Key Role in Deciding a Leading AI Training Data Case in India](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/from-cch-to-chatgpt-how-canadian-copyright-law-played-the-key-role-in-deciding-a-leading-ai-training-data-case-in-india/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-cch-to-chatgpt-how-canadian-copyright-law-played-the-key-role-in-deciding-a-leading-ai-training-data-case-in-india) _2026-07-30 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ The Delhi High Court has released what may be one of the most consequential copyright decisions yet on artificial intelligence, ruling in ANI Media Pvt. Ltd. v. OpenAI that OpenAI’s use of copyrighted news articles to train the models behind ChatGPT is prima facie fair dealing. The 135-page decision of Justice Amit Bansal, released last week, dismissed an Indian news agency’s application for an… ## [Starting Over: Court Filing Confirms the CRTC’s Streamer Contribution Decisions Are Dead With a Full Online Streaming Act Reset to Come](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/starting-over-court-filing-confirms-the-crtcs-streamer-contribution-decisions-are-dead-with-a-full-online-streaming-act-reset-to-come/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=starting-over-court-filing-confirms-the-crtcs-streamer-contribution-decisions-are-dead-with-a-full-online-streaming-act-reset-to-come) _2026-07-29 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ When the government announced plans last month to kill the CRTC’s Online Streaming Act ruling , it left a critical question unanswered: was the target only the Commission’s decision to increase streamer contributions to 15 percent , or did the reversal extend to the original base contribution decision requiring foreign streamers to contribute five percent of their Canadian revenues? A new court… ## [The Name on the Window Was Enough: The Attacks on Kiva’s and the Normalization of Antisemitic Violence in Canada](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/the-name-on-the-window-was-enough-the-attacks-on-kivas-and-the-normalization-of-antisemitic-violence-in-canada/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-name-on-the-window-was-enough-the-attacks-on-kivas-and-the-normalization-of-antisemitic-violence-in-canada) _2026-07-28 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ Kiva’s, the well-known Toronto Jewish bakery, was struck by gunfire and smashed windows in two locations over the weekend . This one is personal as Kiva was my grandmother’s cousin. Both were Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives in Toronto, and though he sold the business years ago, the owners have kept his name on the window ever since. Whoever fired at that window almost certainly knew… ## [The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 277: Kate Robertson on the Risks That Lie Behind Canada’s Unexpected Signing of the UN Cybercrime Convention](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/episode-277-kate-robertson-on-the-risks-that-lie-behind-canadas-unexpected-signing-of-the-un-cybercrime-convention/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=episode-277-kate-robertson-on-the-risks-that-lie-behind-canadas-unexpected-signing-of-the-un-cybercrime-convention) _2026-07-27 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ The Canadian government’s surprise decision to sign the UN Cybercrime Convention has sparked many questions about the convention, its risks, and what changed over the past nine months between Canada no-showing the signing in Vietnam and this month’s reversal. To help answer those questions, there is no one better than Kate Robertson , a senior research associate at the Citizen Lab, who has been… [Listen](https://episodes.castos.com/lawbytes/2548587/c1e-no24az68g1i9jjdq-rko31p5wfo51-gajpfa.mp3) ## [A Surveillance Treaty in Disguise: The Trouble With Canada’s Quiet Decision to Sign the UN Cybercrime Convention](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/a-surveillance-treaty-in-disguise-the-trouble-with-canadas-quiet-decision-to-sign-the-un-cybercrime-convention/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-surveillance-treaty-in-disguise-the-trouble-with-canadas-quiet-decision-to-sign-the-un-cybercrime-convention) _2026-07-23 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ Last week, the government announced that Canada has signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime , with Ministers Anita Anand, Gary Anandasangaree and Sean Fraser touting the treaty’s child protection provisions and human rights safeguards, which were described as “among the strongest found in an international criminal justice treaty.” The announcement, released in mid-July with few… ## [Rushing Lawful Access Backfires: Wyden Letter on Bill C-22 Highlights Political, Trade and Business Risks](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2026/07/rushing-lawful-access-backfires-wyden-letter-on-bill-c-22-highlights-political-trade-and-business-risks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rushing-lawful-access-backfires-wyden-letter-on-bill-c-22-highlights-political-trade-and-business-risks) _2026-07-21 · Michael Geist · Michael Geist_ Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and the government presumably hoped that pushing Bill C-22 through a House of Commons committee past midnight without debate or a recorded vote would put an end to the lawful access controversy. A new letter from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden , the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee that holds jurisdiction over trade, suggests the opposite. The… ## [Submission: Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill](https://nzccl.org.nz/submission-summary-offences-move-on-orders-amendment-bill/) _2026-06-29 · Steven Ensslen · NZ Council for Civil Liberties_ The Council strongly opposes this move-on orders bill. This bill limits seven BORA rights, property rights, our right to be healthy, and interferes with the proper functioning of government. Against these many and serious losses of liberty this bill proposes to control what at worst is a nuisance. Keep reading “Submission: Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill” ## [Submission: Legislation (Definition of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill](https://nzccl.org.nz/submission-legislation-definition-of-woman-and-man-amendment-bill/) _2026-06-28 · thomas@nzccl.org.nz · NZ Council for Civil Liberties_ This bill adds definitions of man, woman, male, and female to the Legislation Act 2019. These definitions are reductionist and based on a simplistic view of both human nature and biology. Keep reading “Submission: Legislation (Definition of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill” ## [Essay prize webinar now online](https://nzccl.org.nz/essay-prize-webinar-now-online/) _2026-06-20 · thomas@nzccl.org.nz · NZ Council for Civil Liberties_ Thanks to our NZCCL/VUW Law essay prize winner Jessica Ye for taking the time to present her essay and answer questions in our webinar. This was recorded and is now available online. Keep reading “Essay prize webinar now online” ## [Play Both Sides Of The Lie (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/edMRske1UnOL) _2026-06-20 · **Sponsored**_ Two operatives, one manufactured war — uncover the Complete Truth after both campaigns. ## [Prólogo](https://revista.consejodecomunicacion.gob.ec/index.php/rec/article/view/354) _2026-06-19 · Danilo Eduardo Villarroel-Silva · Revista Enfoques de la Comunicación_ Prólogo de la Revista Enfoques de la Comunicación Nro.15 "Desafíos para la libertad de expresión y de prensa" ## [Presentación](https://revista.consejodecomunicacion.gob.ec/index.php/rec/article/view/353) _2026-06-19 · César Antonio Martín-Moreno · Revista Enfoques de la Comunicación_ Presentación de la Revista Enfoques de la Comunicación Nro.15 "Desafíos para la libertad de expresión y de prensa". ## [Desinformación y Libertad de Expresión en la Amazonía](https://revista.consejodecomunicacion.gob.ec/index.php/rec/article/view/327) _2026-06-19 · Cinthya Monserrate Zambrano-Salazar, Diego Fabricio Lozada-Prado · Revista Enfoques de la Comunicación_ La desinformación constituye un fenómeno ampliamente presente en los entornos digitales, impacta en la confianza informativa y en el ejercicio de la libertad de expresión. Este estudio analiza las percepciones de usuarios activos de redes sociales de la región amazónica ecuatoriana sobre la desinformación y su relación con la libertad de expresión. Se emplea un enfoque mixto con diseño… ## [Inteligencia Artificial y Libertad de Expresión](https://revista.consejodecomunicacion.gob.ec/index.php/rec/article/view/322) _2026-06-19 · Kristel Sofía Fernández-Tandazo · Revista Enfoques de la Comunicación_ La inteligencia artificial \[IA\] se ha convertido en un elemento clave en la transformación del ecosistema comunicacional contemporáneo, modificando las formas de producción, circulación y consumo de información. Esta entrevista al especialista en comunicación digital, Alex René Jaramillo Campoverde, analiza los principales desafíos que la IA representa para la libertad de expresión y el ejercicio… ## [Derecho a la Información y Comunicación Estratégica en Ciberseguridad](https://revista.consejodecomunicacion.gob.ec/index.php/rec/article/view/292) _2026-06-19 · Ricardo Manuel Candanedo-Yau · Revista Enfoques de la Comunicación_ El artículo analiza la relación entre el derecho a la información y la comunicación estratégica en el contexto de la ciberseguridad, enfatizando la integración de tecnologías emergentes para fortalecer una gestión académica sostenible. La investigación se desarrolla bajo un enfoque cualitativo de alcance descriptivo, mediante revisión documental de literatura científica, normativa internacional y… ## [Submission: Corrections (Management of Prisoners, and Prisoners’ Property) Amendment Bill](https://nzccl.org.nz/submission-corrections-management-of-prisoners-and-prisoners-property-amendment-bill/) _2026-06-10 · Steven Ensslen · NZ Council for Civil Liberties_ The Council opposes the Prisoners and Property bill as it places unjustified and disproportionate limits on our rights to be healthy, to justice, and to freedom of association. Keep reading “Submission: Corrections (Management of Prisoners, and Prisoners’ Property) Amendment Bill” ## [Right to Know Act – A replacement for the OIA?](https://nzccl.org.nz/right-to-know-act-a-replacement-for-the-oia/) _2026-05-23 · thomas@nzccl.org.nz · NZ Council for Civil Liberties_ Recently we received an intriguing document from an independent researcher, Russell Opland, where he has given up on the prosect of improving the Official Information Act and has written a complete replacement called Te Ture Mana Puna Kōrero – The Right to Know Act. Keep reading “Right to Know Act – A replacement for the OIA?” ## [Submission: Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill](https://nzccl.org.nz/submission-immigration-enhanced-risk-management-amendment-bill/) _2026-05-01 · thomas@nzccl.org.nz · NZ Council for Civil Liberties_ We are opposed to the arrest of people for not carrying proof of their right to live in New Zealand. Keep reading “Submission: Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill” ## [Submission: Policing Amendment Bill](https://nzccl.org.nz/submission-policing-amendment-bill/) _2026-04-21 · Steven Ensslen · NZ Council for Civil Liberties_ The Council strongly objects to the Policing Amendment Bill. This bill removes all limits on Police powers to record people’s activities. This bill enables police to break up any gathering, remove people from any location, and detain people on suspicion that they might return. The bill is yet another example of the government reacting to illegal Police behaviours by making them legal. Keep reading… ## [5th May 2026 – Webinar: Rupturing the liberal grammar of ‘critical’ civil disobedience theories](https://nzccl.org.nz/5th-may-2026-webinar-rupturing-the-liberal-grammar-of-critical-civil-disobedience-theories/) _2026-04-19 · thomas@nzccl.org.nz · NZ Council for Civil Liberties_ Come and hear 2025 NZCCL VUW Law Essay Prize winner Jessica Ye present her essay Rupturing the liberal grammar of ‘critical’ civil disobedience theories: Decolonial refusal of state recognition and affirmation of alternative lifeworlds. Keep reading “5th May 2026 – Webinar: Rupturing the liberal grammar of ‘critical’ civil disobedience theories” ## [Open Government Partnership — Comments on draft commitments and draft 5th National Action Plan](https://nzccl.org.nz/open-government-partnership-comments-on-draft-commitments-and-draft-5th-national-action-plan/) _2026-04-17 · Andrew Ecclestone · NZ Council for Civil Liberties_ The Council provided written feedback to the Government on the draft commitments and the draft fifth National Action Plan as a member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Keep reading “Open Government Partnership — Comments on draft commitments and draft 5th National Action Plan” ## [Georgia, where artistic and civic freedom is under attack](https://shoutsmusic.blog/georgia-where-artistic-and-civic-freedom-is-under-attack/) _2026-04-15 · Shouts - Music from the Rooftops! · SHOUTS – Music from the Rooftops!_ Georgia's thriving cultural scene faces a crisis due to repressive laws restricting independent expression, particularly the locally-called 'Russian Law' enacted in 2023. Artists are fleeing, exhibitions are closing, and protests have emerged as resistance. Nonetheless, musicians and creatives continue to challenge the status quo, uniting through music and collaborative art forms. ## [Submission: Data and Statistics (Census) and Electoral (District Boundaries) Amendment Bills](https://nzccl.org.nz/submission-data-and-statistics-census-and-electoral-district-boundaries-amendment-bills/) _2026-04-15 · Steven Ensslen · NZ Council for Civil Liberties_ The Council opposes both bills, primarily for the same reasons as the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination opposes: data will inevitably decline in quality, especially data about Māori, Pasifika, and other minorities. Keep reading “Submission: Data and Statistics (Census) and Electoral (District Boundaries) Amendment Bills” ## [Iranian musician, Mehdi Yarrahi, drops new protest song, titled Auschwitz](https://shoutsmusic.blog/iranian-musician-mehdi-yarrahi-new-protest-song-auschwitz/) _2026-03-21 · Shouts - Music from the Rooftops! · SHOUTS – Music from the Rooftops!_ While the US and Israel wage war on Iran, Iranian singer-songwriter Mehdi Yarrahi has released one of his most striking and politically charged works to date. Titled Auschwitz, the song dropped in early 2026 following a crackdown on protesters in Iran, continuing Mehdi’s tradition of using music as a way of speaking out against his own government. ## [Pearl Jam join activists in the fight against open-net salmon farming in Iceland](https://shoutsmusic.blog/pearl-jam-oppose-open-net-salmon-farming-in-iceland/) _2026-03-17 · Shouts - Music from the Rooftops! · SHOUTS – Music from the Rooftops!_ Pearl Jam has joined the fight against open-net salmon farming in Iceland, supporting local activists and residents concerned about environmental damage to marine ecosystems. With significant opposition from the public and previous celebrity endorsements, the movement aims to halt the industry’s expansion to protect biodiversity in the country’s wild fjords. ## [From rapper to political leader: 4 songs by Balen, Nepal’s future prime minister](https://shoutsmusic.blog/4-songs-by-balen-nepal-future-prime-minister/) _2026-03-16 · Shouts - Music from the Rooftops! · SHOUTS – Music from the Rooftops!_ Balendra Shah, known as Balen, transformed from a socially conscious rapper in Nepal's hip-hop scene to the Mayor of Kathmandu in 2022, representing a significant political shift driven by youth discontent. His music addressed corruption and social inequality, resonating with young voters. Balen is now poised to become Nepal's next prime minister, emphasizing music's impact on political change. ## [I am still alive: Adib Ghorbani’s “Man Zendeam Hanooz” becomes a new anthem in Iran](https://shoutsmusic.blog/man-zendeam-hanooz-iran-protest-song/) _2026-03-10 · Shouts - Music from the Rooftops! · SHOUTS – Music from the Rooftops!_ Among the latest additions to the growing list of songs and music emerging from the Iranian protests is the powerful protest song “Man Zendeam Hanooz” ("I Am Still Alive") by Iranian composer Adib Ghorbani, with words by Vienna-based, Iranian poet Pooyan Moghaddassi. ## [Songs for the community: Hardscrabble Hope by Maria Dunn](https://shoutsmusic.blog/songs-for-the-community-hardscrabble-hope-by-maria-dunn/) _2026-03-06 · Shouts - Music from the Rooftops! · SHOUTS – Music from the Rooftops!_ Maria Dunn's 2025 album, Hardscrabble Hope, emphasizes storytelling in protest folk, focusing on the struggles of workers and marginalized communities. It blends empathy with political awareness, featuring songs that address issues like resource extraction, mental health, and identity. The album’s musical depth enhances its themes of resilience and solidarity. ## [Transparency Report Update: July – December 2025](https://transparency.automattic.com/2026/02/23/transparency-report-update-july-december-2025/) _2026-02-23 · lorna-m · Automattic Transparency Reports_ The 25th edition of our biannual transparency report, covering the period from July through December 2025 is now available. The work of Automattic’s Trust & Safety team is grounded in key principles meant to prioritize an open, safe internet, and protect free expression while ensuring users can exercise their rights under frameworks such as the \[…\] ## [Our 10 favourite protest music albums of 2025](https://shoutsmusic.blog/our-10-favourite-protest-music-albums-of-2025/) _2026-01-16 · Shouts - Music from the Rooftops! · SHOUTS – Music from the Rooftops!_ As we all watch horrors unfold around the world, musicians remind us that we can all do something. Every little thing matters. Protest music never died. These are our favourite protest music albums from 2025.