Study finds Marion County Record raid created 'shared press distress' among fellow journalists
A recent study from the University of Kansas found that a 2023 police raid on a small-town newspaper in Kansas sparked
Censorship
Articles tagged with Censorship
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When speaking out feels risky
A new study from Arizona State University and the University of Michigan explores the strategic trade-offs individuals make when facing punishment for dissent. The research reveals that self-censorship is a rational response shaped by the interplay of boldness, surveillance, and punishment severity.
Baltic countries lead the way in supporting media freedom internationally, according to new index
The Baltic states of Lithuania and Estonia topped the Index on International Media Freedom Support, while Latvia came in 9th. The report highlights a significant gap between public commitments and actual support for media freedom among larger countries like the US, UK, Italy, and Japan.
Political views, not sex and violence, now drive literary censorship
A recent study by Cornell University researchers found that both liberals and conservatives oppose censorship of children's literature unless it reflects their own ideology. The study highlights the polarization of an issue once governed by bipartisan consensus over protecting children from violent or sexual content.
Trump is the primary source of US disinformation in POC media, finds ICFJ study
A new study by the International Center for Journalists and US universities found that Trump was the main source and distributor of disinformation in ethnic and Indigenous press in the US. The research also linked the prevalence of political disinformation to a decline in trust in the news and an increase in violence against journalists.
Sage inspires over 200 attendees to speak out against censorship at the ALA Annual Conference
At the 2025 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference, over 200 attendees engaged with the Sage-sponsored 'Banned Books from the Big Chair' exhibit, discussing book challenges and sharing advice to combat censorship. The event highlighted the number of challenged books and featured award-winning authors.
Russia using museums for ideological indoctrination about the Ukraine invasion, study shows
Russian leaders use museums and digital collections to portray Ukraine as inseparable from Russia, framing the invasion as a fight against Nazism and NATO. Researchers urge prioritizing non-Russian sources for balanced approaches.
Circumventing internet censorship in countries like China or Iran
A team of researchers at Paderborn University has developed a 'censor scanner' that encrypts web requests to bypass censorship systems, including China's 'Great Firewall'. The tool uses techniques like TLS fragmentation to successfully display blocked pages.
Dr. Emily DeJeu on using large language models to analyze sensitive discourse
A Carnegie Mellon University researcher critiques an article on large language models' ability to analyze sensitive discourse, including hate speech. The commentary highlights the need for a nuanced approach to human-AI collaboration in critical discourse analysis.
Three out of four Spaniards believe that there should be external control to guarantee the quality of journalism on health issues
A study by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid found that Spanish society demands mechanisms to guarantee the veracity of health news, with no age, gender, or social class correlation. The researchers suggest co-regulation as an intermediate solution to mitigate public skepticism about media reliability.
New model advances our understanding of quantum black holes
Researchers have developed a mathematical model that provides strong evidence for the cosmic censorship conjecture in three dimensions, suggesting singularities inside black holes will always be hidden. The model has implications for quantum gravity and advances efforts to understand thermodynamic properties of black holes.
Study exposes global ‘blind spot’ in human rights protections for dissidents
A new paper reveals widespread transnational human rights violations (THRVs) due to repressive states' intensifying tactics. The authors urge the establishment of 'Transnational Rights Protection Offices' to provide support and guidance for individuals affected by these actions.
New research sets out how to make free internet access a human right
A new book by Dr Merten Reglitz proposes a human right to free internet access, including protections against government censorship and surveillance. The research argues that governments should provide guaranteed access to the internet with sufficient quality to meet basic human rights needs.
Not all “review bombing” is bad for business
A new study by Rutgers researcher Will B. Payne found that Yelp's tough moderation policies can unnecessarily constrain reasonable opinions and cultural context in response to review bombing incidents. This can result in local customers being censored for supporting a business owner who spoke out on social issues, highlighting the need...
Magicians don’t mind sharing the secrets behind tricks – if they are their own
A new study reveals that magicians are willing to share their own trick techniques, but not those invented by others or deceased individuals. They believe it's acceptable to reveal secrets for good causes, such as enhancing wellbeing or scientific research, and that mass online tutorials have reduced the need for traditional secrecy.
Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing: Censoring hate speech
Researchers found that Democrats and Republicans generally agree on what to censor when it comes to hate speech, with both parties prioritizing similar targets and severity levels. The study's findings suggest that social media companies can find consensus policies that get broad support, even in a highly polarized era.
Educators and parents reveal culture of fear, censorship, and loss of learning opportunities in the wake of Florida policies
A new study reveals that Florida policies are driving a 'limitation effect' in public schools, restricting access to instruction, books, and supports. Educators and parents report witnessing efforts to censor materials, reduce learning opportunities, and even quit teaching due to state restrictions.
Women of color disproportionately targeted by book bans, study finds
A comprehensive analysis of book bans in US schools reveals that women authors of color are 4.5 times more likely to be banned than white authors, particularly for writing children's books about diverse characters.
A new and better way to detect media censorship
A new computational method detects media capture by states, providing insights into regime-driven media control and its impacts on editorial decisions. The method assesses the influence of censorship laws and differentiates between outlets.
The tentacles of retracted science reach deep into social media. A simple button could change that.
A new interface developed by researchers at the University of Sydney aims to reduce the spread of misinformation on social media. The tool adds a 'more information' button to posts, linking users to details about retracted science claims, which can help them make informed decisions about their health.
The majority of Americans do not support anti-democratic behavior, even when elected officials do
A new study found that most Americans reject democratic norm violations and political violence, with only a small percentage supporting them. Researchers also discovered that there is no significant correlation between constituents' opinions and policymakers' actions on election denial.
Americans support democratic norms, elected officials don't
A recent study found that most Americans support democratic norms, with 17.2% of Democrats and 21.6% of Republicans supporting at least one norm violation. However, the researchers also discovered a divide between everyday citizens and elected officials who are pushing against democratic governance.
Public may overestimate pushback against controversial research findings
A pair of studies suggest people consistently overestimate support for harmful actions and underestimate support for helpful reactions to controversial research findings. This negativity bias can lead to censorship and harm, with conservative participants more likely to support censoring research.
Are virtual private networks actually private?
Researchers from Arizona State University and the University of Michigan investigated the effectiveness of virtual private networks in protecting users' data. They found that traffic can still be attacked through VPN tunnels, making them vulnerable to redirection and malware attacks.
Online fandom communities can facilitate state censorship, according to new Concordia research
Researchers found that online fans in China engage in participatory censorship, self-censoring and policing others to strengthen the authoritarian regime's control over the internet. The study suggests that users create a social imaginary of censorship, speculating about the government's parameters and acting upon it.
Critical thinking protecting Ukrainians against Russia's disinformation campaign
A study led by McGill University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that Ukrainians who engage in more analytic thinking are less likely to believe pro-Kremlin disinformation. Analytical thinking helps curtail belief in disinformation, according to the researchers.
A new learning method could help people with autism improve visual perception capabilities
Researchers propose a new learning method for individuals with autism, utilizing 'memory flashes' to accelerate learning and improve visual perception capabilities. The study showed significant improvement in both learning speed and generalization of skills, even under new conditions.
Fighting propaganda with censorship: A study of the Ukrainian ban on Russian social media
A study by Yevgeniy Golovchenko examines the effect of a 2017 Ukrainian ban on online activity among Russian social media users. The findings indicate that censorship may not be effective in reducing activity, as users can circumvent bans using VPNs and shift to cheaper alternatives.
The BMJ announces appeal after Facebook fails to act over incompetent “fact check” of investigation
The BMJ is appealing to Facebook's Oversight Board after its investigation into poor clinical trial research practices at Ventavia was wrongly labelled with 'missing context' and censored on Facebook. The media outlet argues that the social network's fact-checking processes are opaque and lack accountability.
New research in JNCCN raises concerns about clinical trial bias from undisclosed censoring
A recent study published in JNCCN found that 33 out of 81 studies lacked transparency on censoring, which can introduce bias and affect trial results. The researchers emphasize the need for improved transparency and reporting in clinical trials to ensure patients and clinicians make informed decisions.
World-leading pharma collaborates call for plain language summaries of peer-reviewed medical journal articles
Pharmaceutical companies in the Open Pharma collaboration recommend developing plain language summaries of peer-reviewed medical research articles. The summaries should be understandable, unbiased, non-promotional, and easily accessible. This move aims to make medical publishing more open and inclusive for all audiences.
Malicious dark web activity unevenly prevalent in free nations, researchers find
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that potentially harmful use within the Tor system clusters disproportionately in liberal democratic regimes. Only 6.7% of users globally employ Tor for malicious purposes on an average day, with most users using it for benign web content.
'Extremely aggressive' internet censorship spreads in the world's democracies
A recent study by the University of Michigan found that internet censorship is increasing in 103 countries, including Norway, Japan, and India. The Censored Planet tool collected over 21 billion measurements across 20 months in 221 countries, revealing widespread blocking of human rights sites, same-sex dating sites, and news outlets.
Machine learning shows similar performance to traditional risk prediction models
Research found machine learning and statistical techniques have similar performance at the population level but vary substantially in individual-level risk predictions. Machine learning models often ignore censoring, leading to biased predictions.
New research says displaying fake reviews increases consumer trust in platforms by 80%
A new study published in INFORMS Journal Information Systems Research suggests that displaying fake reviews alongside truthful ones can increase consumer trust in review platforms by 80%. Consumers want to view both types of reviews together, and this transparency can help build trust. The study also highlights the importance of provid...
How to handle fraudulent reviews on online portals? Study gives tips to managers
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that displaying fraudulent reviews alongside nonfraudulent ones increases consumer trust in review platforms. Consumers tend to trust information from platforms that display suspicious reviews, especially when they are uncertain about product quality.
New artificial intelligence system automatically evolves to evade internet censorship
Researchers developed a tool called Geneva that automatically learns to evade internet censorship by exploiting gaps in censors' logic. Tested in China, India and Kazakhstan, Geneva found dozens of ways to circumvent censorship, outperforming human attempts.
Video and film portals that incorporate real-time comments from their audiences
Researchers analyzed Chinese youth comments on Spanish TV series El Ministerio del Tiempo, finding discussions on intercultural differences and taboo topics like sex. The study highlights the potential of participation and communication in social networks for learning about different cultures.
People are willing to pay to curate their online social image
Researchers investigated how people curate their social image on the web using game theory. They found that people are willing to pay to filter out unfavorable information from their online profiles.
A new alternative to 'practice makes perfect'
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered that brief memory reactivations can replace extensive practice and training as a basis of procedural learning. By leveraging this novel approach, individuals can improve their learning with just several brief but highly efficient reactivations of a learned memory.
Why many Russians have gladly agreed to online censorship
A study found that Russians who relied on government-controlled TV news perceived the internet as a threat, leading to increased support for censorship. The government's successful persuasion has troubling implications, with many citizens self-censoring their online use.
Rejection, volunteering and morality: The latest in social and personality psychology
Research finds that rejection feels worse when blamed on someone else, leading to exclusion and decreased belonging. Higher neuroticism is linked to lower volunteer rates across US states, while moral sanctity values drive censorship of immoral acts from children.
The brain mechanism behind multitasking
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered a brain mechanism that enables more efficient multitasking by reactivating learned memories. This process prevents interference from competing tasks and can improve learning and memory functions in daily life.
Truth is in danger as new techniques used to stop journalists covering the news
Journalists face increasing threats globally, with physical violence, kidnapping, and murder being used to suppress news. Citizen journalists in Syria are under immense pressure to continue reporting despite the risks.
Honduras: 215 LGBT people killed in 7 years
A new report exposes the shocking statistics of LGBT activists' murders in Honduras, with 215 killings between 2009 and 2015, and only 48 cases going to court. The violence rocketed after the 2009 coup, but remains largely unreported.
Banning words on Instagram doesn't help -- it makes it worse
A Georgia Tech study found that Instagram's ban on pro-eating disorder terms led to communities rallying around censored words, driving up participation by 30%. Researchers suggest allowing banned terms to be searchable with recovery-related links or tweaking search algorithms instead.
UMass Amherst cyber security expert receives $580,000 grant to fight Internet censorship
Houmansadr aims to create a theoretical model to lead to new anti-blocking tools, analyzing current censor-circumvention systems and employing game theory, network science, and information theory. Emerging communication devices like content caching and cloud computing will be used to design sustainable ways to circumvent censorship.
Airbrushing out racism is attempting 'to re-edit the past'
Film historian Kunle Olulode argues that removing racist content from old films and books hinders understanding of the past. By leaving these elements intact, we can learn from historical context and develop a more nuanced understanding of society's evolution.
Social-media messages in China censored, new research reveals
Researchers discovered hundreds of censored Weibo posts criticizing air pollution and government response to the documentary 'Under the Dome'. The study highlights the effectiveness of Chinese censorship in suppressing public expression.
New internet routing method allows users to avoid sending data through undesired countries
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed Alibi Routing, a method that allows users to prove their information did not cross through certain geographic areas. The system has a success rate of over 85% and can be used by users to control data transmission.
Most Internet anonymity software leaks users' details
A recent study revealed that 11 out of 14 popular VPN providers leak user information due to IPv6 weaknesses. This vulnerability affects users' browsing activities, including website access and online communications. Researchers warn that this exposure puts users at risk of being tracked by hackers or oppressive regimes.
Casualties get scant attention in wartime news, with little change since World War I
A recent study of New York Times war coverage reveals that casualties get little mention in daily war reporting, despite major conflicts going back a century. The study finds that when casualties are covered, they are often presented in ways that minimize or downplay their human costs.
Carnegie Mellon performs first large-scale analysis of 'soft' censorship of social media in China
Researchers found that politically sensitive terms, such as Falun Gong and human rights activists, were frequently deleted from messages at varying rates based on current events or geography. High deletion rates were observed in certain provinces, particularly Tibet, where up to 53% of locally generated microblogs were deleted.
Is transparency bad for science?
The article discusses the controversy surrounding science transparency, with some scientists arguing that data sharing and freedom of information can hinder their work. Researchers like Fred Pearce argue that openness would have prevented time-consuming debates between climate deniers and scientists.
New anti-censorship scheme could make it impossible to block individual sites
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new anticensorship scheme called Telex, which uses public-key steganography to divert connections through participating ISPs. This system could shift the arms race regarding censorship in favor of free speech and access to information.
Georgia Tech to pursue 'transparent Internet' with $1 million Google Focused Research Award
A team of Georgia Tech researchers will create a suite of web-based measurement tools to promote Internet transparency and accountability. The project aims to provide users worldwide with the ability to detect artificially slowed services and censorship, enabling more informed decision-making about online activities.
'Openness prevails' -- have Obama's promises fallen short?
WikiLeaks revelations highlight US government's failure to deliver on transparency laws. Leaks are one of the few means of holding gov't accountable due to overclassification and ineffective transparency laws.
Using digitized books as 'cultural genome,' researchers unveil quantitative approach to humanities
Harvard researchers have developed a new approach to scholarship using digitized books as a digital 'fossil record' of human culture. By tracking word frequencies over time, they can quantify cultural trends, revealing findings such as the rise of new words, forgetting of past references, and changes in celebrity fame.
Beyond bars
The latest issue of Index on Censorship highlights the vital role writers can play in supporting their colleagues facing persecution. Contributors, including Margaret Atwood and Lydia Cacho, share their experiences and emphasize the importance of protecting free expression.
Governments worldwide censor Web content
A new study analyzes where and how governments worldwide censor the web, revealing stark differences in levels of control. The analysis shows that countries with democratic systems have minimal or no censorship, while authoritarian regimes impose extensive restrictions.