The hottest Freedom of Speech Substack posts right now

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America Enters the Samizdat Era

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 13143 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Censorship Social media Freedom of Speech Government Control
  1. The Internet is transitioning from a space of free exchange to one of top-down control over information and narrative.
  2. Alternative ways of distributing dissenting ideas are becoming necessary due to digital suppression of politically undesirable content.
  3. It's crucial to raise awareness about the challenges to freedom of speech and find new ways to share truth in the face of increasing control over information.

Florida Bill Would Make Accusations Of Transphobia Defamation With A $35K Penalty

Erin In The Morning • 3950 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Discrimination Freedom of Speech Defamation
  1. A new bill in Florida aims to treat accusations of transphobia as defamation with a $35K penalty.
  2. The bill restricts the ability to defend against defamation lawsuits by not allowing the use of scientific or religious beliefs.
  3. This bill has the potential to significantly restrict free speech in Florida, especially when it comes to reporting on discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals.
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In the latest victory against right-wing extremism, police officers pull a 16 year-old girl out of chemistry class and advise her to stop posting Smurf-themed AfD-friendly content to TikTok

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 235 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Germany Authoritarianism Freedom of Speech
  1. Police officers intervened with a 16-year-old girl for posting content deemed far-right on TikTok.
  2. Government figures in Germany are proposing actions against speech and thoughts deemed as potentially extreme.
  3. The incident sparked controversy and debate, with some defending the intervention as preventative.

Universiteten välkomnar en viss sorts politisk aktivism

Rak höger med Ivar Arpi • 707 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Academic Freedom Cancel Culture Political Activism Freedom of Speech Higher education
  1. Universities are selective in addressing challenges to academic freedom, with instances of cancel culture being omitted in responses.
  2. There is a discrepancy between how universities present academic freedom and the actual management of challenges and controversies within academic institutions.
  3. Some universities tend to prioritize certain ideologies and political activism, creating tensions around issues like cancel culture and academic freedom.

Harvard's double standard for Gay

Heterodox STEM • 1579 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Scandal Plagiarism Academic standards Freedom of Speech
  1. Harvard's president was accused of plagiarism but faced no consequences, leading to concerns about double standards.
  2. Students at Harvard face severe punishments for plagiarism, while the university seems to handle allegations against its president differently.
  3. The president's controversies have raised questions about the institution's values and reputation, affecting its students and donors.

My Family Was Hunted by Nazis. But I Was Fired After ‘Defending Hitler.’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 5499 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism Social media Political Extremism Discourse Freedom of Speech
  1. The author was fired from their job at _The Seattle Times_ after a Twitter post comparing Lenin and Hitler, leading to accusations of defending Hitler.
  2. The author's work as a journalist focused on stories of structural oppression in Asia, including sexism and neo-Nazi trends, driven by personal family history.
  3. The situation highlights the challenges of engaging in divisive discussions online and the impact of social media controversies on personal and professional life.

Introspection Before Any Possible Course Correction

Heterodox STEM • 291 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🚌 Education Higher Ed Freedom of Speech Public Trust
  1. Listening to the Congressional testimony on free speech exposed a lack of consistent application of concepts at universities.
  2. Public trust in higher education has significantly declined based on surveys due to real or perceived failures of universities.
  3. Universities facing public backlash have responded defensively rather than engaging in introspection, potentially leading to further erosion of trust.

Oh, how wonderful it is to live in an extremely democratic state like Germany, where the police will never harass you or fine you or raid your house for criticising the government

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 275 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Democracy Freedom of Speech Political criticism Authoritarianism Government Control
  1. Germany embraces freedom of expression with its constitution protecting the right to criticize the government openly.
  2. The authorities in Germany respect the freedom to criticize the government, evident by cases of protest signs targeting political figures and police interventions.
  3. While there are limits, Germany promotes an open democratic discourse, allowing criticism of politicians without fear of severe consequences.

BIG WIN IN THE COURTS: Missouri v. Biden

COVID Reason • 3321 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal Government censorship Court ruling Freedom of Speech
  1. The Fifth District Court ruling in Missouri v. Biden prevents government parties from censoring American citizens.
  2. The court's modified injunction prohibits government entities from coercing or significantly encouraging content-moderation decisions on platforms.
  3. Individuals including White House officials and CDC employees are specifically named in the court order.

In Search of the “Reasonable Man”

Symposium • 432 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Freedom of Speech Content Moderation Online Platforms Social media
  1. The debate about Substack and 'Substack Nazis' raises questions about freedom of speech and tolerance.
  2. Moderation on platforms like Substack should aim to keep out trolls and explicit Nazis while allowing for diverse discussions.
  3. A 'reasonable man' approach to content moderation could help platforms like Substack navigate difficult decisions.

LEGAL UPDATE: Missouri v. Biden - Court Denies Government's Motion for Dismissal

Human Flourishing • 3832 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics First Amendment Freedom of Speech
  1. The court ruled that the case challenging the federal Censorship-Industrial Complex will proceed to trial.
  2. The judge found evidence that government's censorship activities constituted state action in violation of the First Amendment.
  3. Plaintiffs successfully argued against the government's claims of sovereign immunity and lack of standing, moving the case forward.

Letter to Young Americans

American Dreaming • 546 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Youth Nationalism Social justice Freedom of Speech Critique
  1. Young Americans are expressing disillusionment and cynicism towards the US and the West.
  2. These attitudes are linked to a school of thought called postcolonialism, which can lead to left-wing fascism under the guise of social justice.
  3. The author urges young Americans to reevaluate their views and emphasizes the value of freedom of speech in America.

Those Who Seek To Control Our Speech Are Persecuting the Truth

THE FREEDOM BLOG • 196 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Freedom of Speech Censorship
  1. Politicians and journalists are advocating for silencing certain opinions in the name of protecting the public from 'hatred' and 'falsehood.'
  2. Attempting to create a more truthful and tolerant society by suppressing false and hateful speech leads to a reliance on brute power.
  3. When society is rife with disagreement, the suppression of falsehood and hatred can only be achieved through the use of force.

Chinese Netizens Criticize Government on US Embassy’s Weibo Post

Wenhao’s news blog • 117 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Social media Censorship Freedom of Speech
  1. Chinese netizens used a U.S. Embassy Weibo post to freely vent frustration with the government.
  2. China's internet is heavily censored, but critical comments were briefly allowed on the embassy's post.
  3. The surge in political dissent caught Weibo moderators off guard, leading to a temporary space for freedom of speech.

Normies Of The World, Unite!

Michael Shellenberger • 2066 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Activism Social Issues Freedom of Speech Political Ideologies Medical Ethics
  1. Children are being rushed into gender-transitioning treatments without proper investigation, raising concerns about sterilization and medical abuse.
  2. Wokeism is compared to a powerful and dogmatic religion, uniting various social issues under one umbrella.
  3. There is a call for a united anti-Woke movement, bringing together liberal, libertarian, and conservative individuals to defend freedom of speech and reject harmful ideologies.

World On Cusp Of Woke Totalitarianism As Governments Act To End Freedom Of Speech

Michael Shellenberger • 1653 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🌍 World Politics Censorship Freedom of Speech Government Control Totalitarianism
  1. Governments worldwide are passing or considering laws to censor citizens on social media platforms.
  2. These laws claim to prevent harm but have vague definitions that may lead to abuse.
  3. The rise of these censorship laws poses a threat to freedom of speech and can establish a powerful form of totalitarianism.

The limits of heterodoxy - my review of the Battle of Ideas

The Path Not Taken • 462 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideas Debates Freedom of Speech Liberalism Authoritarianism
  1. The Battle of Ideas festival had some limitations in representing a diverse range of viewpoints.
  2. There is a tension within the heterodox movement between promoting freedom of speech and the values of its supporters.
  3. The heterodox movement plays a crucial role in providing spaces for those marginalized by mainstream perspectives.

China’s Jan 2024 Speech Censorship Policy

Austrian China • 176 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Censorship Authoritarianism Freedom of Speech Human Rights Government Control
  1. China's speech censorship policy is strict, but not as totalitarian as some may think.
  2. Violating speech restrictions can lead to consequences like post deletion and account suspension.
  3. Despite censorship, information still circulates, and the policy has limitations in preventing public voice and information flow.

What is Freedom of Speech, and Why Do We Cherish It?

THE FREEDOM BLOG • 98 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🚌 Education Freedom of Speech Communication Limitations Democracy
  1. Free speech is a core value of Western democracy and crucial for safeguarding other liberties.
  2. Speech is essential for participating in societal and political life, fostering friendship, rational inquiry, and statesmanship.
  3. Defending and promoting relatively free speech is crucial for upholding values like friendship, the pursuit of truth, artistic expression, and serving the common good.

Big announcement...

Random Minds by Katherine Brodsky • 238 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
📚 Literature Book release Writing Freedom of Speech Censorship Authorship
  1. The author has written a book that sheds light on silencing, shaming, and bullying for different views.
  2. The book includes stories of public harassment, interviews with well-known figures, and lessons on using one's voice freely.
  3. The author encourages principled individuals to resist authoritarianism and to find and free their own voices.

China’s rumored new internet regulation has pro-government influencers worried about safety

Wenhao’s news blog • 78 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Internet regulation Social media Influencers Government Control Freedom of Speech
  1. China is rumored to introduce an internet regulation requiring influencers to display their real names, causing concern among pro-government figures.
  2. The potential new rule may impact influencers who create content on politics, finance, or entertainment.
  3. There are worries that the real name display requirement could lead to cyberbullying, harassment, and potential safety threats for influencers and their families.

Was this really “Match of the Day”?

Irregular Thoughts • 78 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Freedom of Speech Government
  1. Freedom of speech is important, but some jobs require individuals to limit their speech on certain topics.
  2. Public service broadcasters like the BBC have a duty to inform, educate, and maintain impartiality in their coverage.
  3. It's crucial for public figures with a large following to be mindful of the language they use, especially when discussing sensitive topics.