Papua New Guinea police “test” shuts down Facebook
The day-long shutdown of Facebook reveals the extensive powers given to police under the new Counter-Terrorism Act and the threat posed to basic democratic rights.
•John Braddock
Douglas Lyons
Jacobin on Silicon Valley alliance with Trump: A diversion from socialist politics
Written with the characteristic pessimism of the upper-middle-class “left,” the piece obfuscates the growing integration of Silicon Valley with the fascist Republican wing of the American political establishment.
•Stephen Parker
US forces temporary shutdown of TikTok in major attack on First Amendment
In an action without any direct precedent in the United States, the American government forced the temporary shutdown of a major social media network on Saturday for 14 hours, setting a precedent for future violations of First Amendment rights.
•Andre Damon
Widespread opposition to Australia’s social media ban for under 16s
The ban is not only an attempt to suppress political ferment among young people, but would impact upon the entire population.
•Oscar Grenfell
Oppose Facebook’s shutdown of the WSWS in Portuguese page, an act of political censorship!
Facebook’s censorship of the “WSWS in Portuguese” page represents a dangerous precedent against socialist and independent political thinking throughout the world.
•Tomas Castanheira
Australian Labor government’s social media ban for under-16s provokes mass anger
The ban is transparent censorship, aimed at suppressing discussion and political activity among a generation that is being radicalised by the reality of war, climate catastrophe and dictatorship.
•International Youth and Students for Social Equality (Australia)
Australian Labor government faces widespread opposition to its “misinformation” laws
The public response reflects intense concern over the Albanese government’s bid to suppress online material that is deemed to be politically or economically harmful.
•Mike Head
Palestinian academic secures legal victory against witch-hunt at Sheffield Hallam University
On her crowdfund site, Abusalama explained: “This victory is not just personal. It is a victory against attempts to silence advocates for justice in Palestine”.
•Harvey Thompson
Meta Platforms and YouTube ban RT worldwide
Social media giants Meta and Alphabet took measures to censor RT and other Russian media outlets on Monday and Tuesday in response to sanctions announced by the US State Department for “covert influence operations.”
•Kevin Reed
Australian Labor government unveils sweeping political censorship laws
Taken together, these provisions would result in a wartime-style censorship regime not seen in Australia since World Wars I and II.
•Mike Head
Trial of “Uhuru 3” begins in Florida as US government accelerates anti-Russia campaign, war drive
As four members of Black nationalist groups in the US are facing potentially 15 years in prison for advancing positions in opposition to the Ukraine war, the Department of Justice claimed on Wednesday that Russia and Iran were “interfering” in the 2024 election.
•Jacob Crosse
The banning of X/Twitter in Brazil and the authoritarian drive of the capitalist state
Brazil’s supreme court has suspended access to X/Twitter, a platform used by tens of millions of Brazilians.
•Eduardo Parati, Tomas Castanheira
Kremlin expands internet censorship amid NATO escalation of the war against Russia
The Kremlin has taken steps to curtail access to YouTube, VPNs and the end-to-end encrypted messenger app Signal.
•Maxim Zotov
Fascist billionaires Trump and Musk express hatred of working class and fear of Marxism in interview on X
For over two hours, the two billionaires used the global communications platform to spread their neo-Nazi ideology and politics.
•Jacob Crosse
Meta maintains censorship regime in Canada a year after passage of Online News Act
For nearly a year, anyone in Canada seeking to look at or share material deemed to be news content, including from the World Socialist Web Site, has been greeted with a notice that declares, “In response to Canadian government legislation, news content can't be viewed in Canada.”
•Niles Niemuth
Julian Assange arrives in Australia free
In a press conference, Stella Assange hailed a global support movement for creating the conditions for Assange's freedom, while warning of an ongoing assault on press freedom that had to be fought.
•Oscar Grenfell
Julian Assange freed after plea deal with the US
The arrangement represents a massive victory for Assange, whose liberation will be welcomed by defenders of democratic rights and opponents of imperialist war around the world.
•Oscar Grenfell
US Surgeon General and Democrats launch campaign against youth access to social media and smartphones
Dr. Vivek Murthy launched a campaign calling for a health warning label requirement to be imposed on social media platforms by Congress.
•Kevin Reed
VIDEO: SEP (Australia) meeting—“Free Julian Assange! Oppose imperialist war!”
Speakers emphasised that the fight against Israel’s genocide, imperialist war and for the freedom of Assange must be based on the independent mobilisation of the working class against capitalism.
•Our reporters
SEP (Australia) forum in Melbourne demands freedom for Assange
The meeting unanimously passed a resolution condemning the US-led vendetta and demanding Assange’s immediate and unconditional freedom.
•Our reporters