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Global Censorship Requires a Global Response

Global Censorship Requires a Global Response

Governments across the world are imposing and enforcing laws to silence free expression, and even free thought.

Increasingly, we are seeing not only the failure to protect free speech, but also the introduction of measures by the state to actively silence and sanction free expression.

Learn more about these cases to see how ADF International is standing against global censorship:

Breaking News

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Breaking News with Paul Coleman: A Win for Religious Freedom in Nigeria
Breaking News with Paul Coleman: A Win for Religious Freedom in Nigeria
02:42
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Breaking News with Paul Coleman: Pushing Back Against Dangerous Gender Ideology
Breaking News with Paul Coleman: Pushing Back Against Dangerous Gender Ideology
02:41
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Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: EU’s Digital Services Act and Global Censorship Threats
Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: EU’s Digital Services Act and Global Censorship Threats
03:30
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Free Speech News with Human Rights Lawyer Paul Coleman: Free Speech in Australia
Free Speech News with Human Rights Lawyer Paul Coleman: Free Speech in Australia
02:41
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Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: Barbados&#039 Cybercrime Bill
Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: Barbados' Cybercrime Bill
02:51
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Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: UK Government&#039s Nationwide Buffer Zones
Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: UK Government's Nationwide Buffer Zones
03:22
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Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: Jim Demers Censored for Standing Silently Holding a Sign
Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: Jim Demers Censored for Standing Silently Holding a Sign
03:09
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Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: Army Vet Convicted for Praying Silently
Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: Army Vet Convicted for Praying Silently
03:04
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Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: Billboard Chris&#039s Banned Opinions
Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: Billboard Chris's Banned Opinions
02:24
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Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: Brazil&#039s Ban of X
Free Speech News with Paul Coleman: Brazil's Ban of X
02:13

Governments should focus on protecting speech, not squashing it

Freedom of speech is a prerequisite for a free society, and a fundamental human right guaranteed by every major human rights treaty. Upholding this right is essential for the protection of all of our human rights. 

State-driven censorship fuels cancel culture and a climate of fear. Once the state starts censoring “unpopular” speech, there is no logical stopping point.

Without free speech, every human right is imperiled

While laws that punish speech often impose different punishments and occur in different contexts, the foundation is often very similar. For example, blasphemy laws and “hate speech” laws are both state-driven censorship grounded in the idea that some words are simply too offensive to be heard.

In a free society, ideas should be challenged with ideas, not censorship

As international human rights advocates with deep expertise in defending the right to free speech, ADF International is uniquely positioned to address the escalating censorship crisis in Brazil.

Our work focuses on the international institutions – including the Organization of American States – which were set up to ensure states respect their human rights commitments.

In Brazil, our work includes petitioning the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to intervene and protect the fundamental right to free speech in Brazil, holding the state to account for violating its international legal obligations.

Latest News

Brazilian legislators challenge unlawful state censorship at international body

Senator Eduardo Girao & Members of the Chamber of Deputies Marcel Van Hattem, Adriana Ventura, Gilson Marques & Ricardo Salles claim violations of their free speech rights following persistent state
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