Freedom of expression is generally protected in the US, but political, legal, economic and cultural factors continue to constrain this fundamental right.
United States: Free expression constrained by cultural and political factors
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CATEGORY: Politics and Society
Germany: A positive environment for free expression clouded by surveillance
The situation with regards to freedom of expression in Germany is largely positive, but there are questions over internal mass surveillance.
Russia: Rolling back free expression
Russia’s environment for free expression is deteriorating, especially since the 2012 re-election of President Vladimir Putin.
Golden Dawn: The open question of Greek politics
As the Greek financial crisis drags on, politicians from the mainstream parties continue to flirt with the far-right Golden Dawn and mainstream media downplays the threat that the party represents, Christos Syllas writes
France: Strict defamation and privacy laws limit free expression
Freedom of expression is generally protected in France, although is limited by strict defamation and privacy laws. Several laws have passed since 1972 that have further restricted this fundamental right.
Canada’s record on free expression under pressure
Despite having a generally positive free expression record, Canada has, in recent years, taken some regressive steps.
Italy’s free expression hamstrung by lack of media plurality
The situation for freedom of expression in Italy is curtailed by a lack of media plurality, restrictive media legislation and a digital sphere restricted by a strict privacy law.
Being a gay poet in Iran: ‘Writing on the edge of crisis’
Iran’s government has been increasing pressure on writers and artists over the past few years, but its heavy hand does not strike evenly.
Egyptian media reflects xenophobic sentiment of military
Xenophobia in general and anti-US sentiment, in particular, have peaked in Egypt since the June 30 rebellion that toppled Islamist President Mohamed Morsi and the Egyptian media has in recent weeks, been fuelling both. Shahira Amin reports
Brazil’s Mídia Ninja covers demonstrations from the inside
Holding to their motto of “independent narratives, journalism and action”, a group of young journalists called Mídia Ninja used the recent demonstrations in Brazil’s major cities as a stage for their guerilla approach to journalism, using smartphones and social media platforms to reach their audience. Rafael Spuldar writes
In Taiwan, censorship quietly flourishes amid outrage
Taiwan’s once-famously freewheeling press is becoming more reliant on China as cross-strait cultural and media exchanges grow. Vincent Chao writes
Edward Snowden helps France rediscover its own whistleblowers
So far, France has spectacularly failed to protect its whistleblowers. But new proposals may offer some protection. Valeria Costa-Kostritsky writes
