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United States

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As COVID-19 spreads through Belmarsh Prison, RSF calls for urgent release of Julian Assange

“We are alarmed by reports of a rapid increase in Covid infections at Belmarsh prison, resulting in Julian Assange being held in de facto solitary confinement. His physical and mental health history leaves him highly vulnerable, and it is clearly unsafe for him to be detained in these conditions.”

Combating ideological exclusion with Julia Rose Kraut

“Threat of Dissent” tells America’s history of ideological exclusion and instituting laws and practices that bar or deport visitors or immigrants based on their beliefs or their expression, and within the text, she unpacks how that history intersects with that of PEN America.

US election results: What’s next for freedom of expression?

The results offer a new approach to human rights after a challenging four years, where a free press was under repeated attack by the political leadership.

Here’s how Biden can restore US press freedom leadership

Reversing Trump’s record will not be an easy task for the incoming Biden administration, particularly given the competing priorities. But much is at stake.

Elections are partisan affairs. Election security isn’t

EFF was profoundly disturbed by reports that the White House was pressuring Chris Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), to change CISA’s reports on election security.

#PressSafety2020: Safely covering the 2020 U.S. elections

Journalists covering elections and political rallies in the U.S. in recent years have been subjected to online and verbal harassment and even physical assault, CPJ has found.

Content moderation and the U.S. election: What to ask, what to demand

It’s not clear that social media played a more significant role than many other factors in the 2016 election, including traditional media. But the techlash is real enough.

Elections 2020

On the precipice of one of the most consequential elections in the history of American democracy, PEN America asked writers Natalie Diaz, Jean Guerrero, Laila Lalami, and Alice Wong to provide their insights and reflections in this collection of essays.

Foreign reporters describe safety concerns covering US elections and protests

This year, amid the spread of COVID-19, curtailed campaigns, civil unrest, visa issues, and an unpredictable political environment, the elections beat has been particularly challenging for foreign reporters.

US: Open letter opposing the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Internet Technologies Act of 2020

In the open letter organisations called for the US Senate to object to any motion for unanimous consent to place the bill on the Senate floor and to vote ‘no’ on passage of the bill in its current form.

If extradited to the US Julian Assange faces 175 years in jail

“If you criminalise news gathering, you are criminalising journalism. It is a moral duty for journalists to protect sources. Many have gone to jail to protect that principle.”

Free speech 2020: An interview with Nupol Kiazolu, President of Black Lives Matter Greater NY

PEN America spoke with Kiazolu about what freedom of speech means to her and to the Black Lives Matter movement, why protests matter, and how young people can harness the power of their voices.

Made in Hollywood, censored by Beijing

This new PEN America report examines the ways in which Beijing’s censors have affected and influenced Hollywood and the global filmmaking industry. Stories shape the way people think, and the stories told by Hollywood reach billions.

What to do when your employee is harassed online

U.S. law requires employers to create a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. But as offices go virtual, what happens when staff confront a torrent of hate and abuse online?

EU Court again rules that NSA spying makes US companies inadequate for privacy

The European Union’s highest court made clear – once again – that the US government’s mass surveillance programs are incompatible with the privacy rights of EU citizens.

‘Voice of America’ visa review could put journalists at risk

If ‘Voice of America’ journalists lose their visas, many of them would be forced to return to their home countries, where they could face retribution for their critical reporting.