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Latest from free speech

SC raps Samay Raina, 4 others over remarks on disabled persons

The court considered the issue in a petition filed by Cure SMA Foundation that produced as evidence, videos where comedian Raina and four others were seen making fun of persons with disabilities

india news

Published on May 06, 2025 07:28 AM IST

ByAbraham Thomas

Brands vs influencers ruling goes beyond free speech

That a high court would balance reputational harm, economic interest, and speech freedoms shows an admirable constitutional sensibility

For far too long, corporations have used the spectre of defamation, disparagement, and trademark infringement to intimidate critics and sidestep public scrutiny (AFP)

opinion

Published on May 05, 2025 09:20 PM IST

BySrinath Sridharan

‘You have impleaded only one person’: HC rejects Sena MLA’s petition aimed at Kamra

The petition contended that Kamra had consistently ridiculed and undermined the dignity of courts and judges with an intent to perpetuate lawlessness. It cited as examples Kamra’s posts on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) from 2020 and his stand-up comedy shows from 2022

cities

Updated on May 01, 2025 09:28 AM IST

ByKaruna Nidhi

Kunal Kamra's lawyer on police action in Bombay HC: 'Even after 75 years…'

Senior advocate Navroz Seervai, representing Kunal Kamra, also accused the enforcement machinery in the country of being ignorant of fundamental rights.

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra.(Instagram/KunalKamra)

india news

Updated on Apr 17, 2025 08:00 AM IST

ByHT News Desk

US to screen social media of immigrants, rights advocates raise concerns

US-USA-TRUMP-MIGRATION-SOCIALMEDIA:US to screen social media of immigrants, rights advocates raise concerns

world news

Published on Apr 10, 2025 01:48 AM IST

Reuters |

Kamra vs Kanal is about mob against citizen

The debate is not about humour but about what sort of people we want to be and what we wish for in our democracy

Bullying is bullying, and mob violence is exactly that. (Hindustan Times)

opinion

Published on Apr 04, 2025 09:23 PM IST

ByBarkha Dutt

Wikimedia must remove India content deemed defamatory, court rules

INDIA-WIKIPEDIA/COURT (PIX):Wikimedia must remove India content deemed defamatory, court rules

india news

Published on Apr 04, 2025 12:39 PM IST

Reuters |

Kunal Kamra's latest post targets government amid ‘gaddar’ joke row

Kunal Kamra accused the government of suppressing dissenting artists after facing backlash for a alleged joke about Eknath Shinde.

india news

Updated on Apr 01, 2025 03:22 PM IST

ByHT News Desk

Visas of 300 international students revoked, more expected: Trump admin

US has revoked over 300 international students' visas, sparking fears of more deportations. The crackdown targets students involved in campus protests.

Georgetown University students hold pictures of people killed in Gaza, rally in support of Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University professor, demanding his release from a deportation process over his views on the Gaza war.(AP Photo)

world news

Updated on Mar 31, 2025 02:34 PM IST

ByAbhimanyu Kulkarni

Free speech is not negotiable

There is a message for the political class in Supreme Court’s reiteration of the constitutional right

India, of course, has a great tradition — oral, written and performative — privileging the right of artists to challenge authority. (Shutterstock)

editorials

Published on Mar 30, 2025 09:35 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

Supreme Court disapproves of direct FIRs in free speech case

The Supreme Court remained emphatic that police officials are “bound to honour and uphold freedom of speech and expression conferred on all citizens”

A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan remained emphatic that police officials are “bound to honour and uphold freedom of speech and expression conferred on all citizens” (HT PHOTO)

india news

Published on Mar 29, 2025 02:58 AM IST

ByUtkarsh Anand, New Delhi

SC upholds free speech, junks FIR against Congress MP for posting poem

The bench emphasised that the free expression of thoughts and views by individuals or groups is an integral part of a healthy, civilized society

The Gujarat HC, on Jan 17, refused to quash the FIR, justifying police action on the grounds that the poem could incite unrest. (HT file photo)

india news

Updated on Mar 28, 2025 11:23 AM IST

ByUtkarsh Anand

Team Thackeray cites PM's take on criticism, questions Sena vandalism

In an editorial in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the party questioned why there was an extreme response to Kunal Kamra's comments on Eknath Shinde

Shiv Sena supporters took offence to Kunal Kamra's comments during a stand up act about Eknath Shinde and have vandalised the venue, and launched protests against the comedian(Anil Shiinde /ANI)

india news

Published on Mar 26, 2025 05:28 PM IST

ByHT News Desk

Priyank Kharge backs Kunal Kamra, defends free speech in democracy

Kharge on social media platform X, condemned attempts to suppress dissent and reiterated the significance of free speech in a democratic society.

cities

Published on Mar 26, 2025 02:06 PM IST

ByHT News Desk

Florida mayor drops threat to evict cinema for screening 'No Other Land'

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/FLORIDA-DOCUMENTARY (PIX):Florida mayor drops threat to evict cinema for screening 'No Other Land'

world news

Updated on Mar 20, 2025 05:18 AM IST

Reuters |

Wikimedia challenges India content takedown, warns of chilling effect on free speech

INDIA-WIKIPEDIA/COURT (PIX):Wikimedia challenges India content takedown, warns of chilling effect on free speech

world news

Published on Mar 18, 2025 08:30 PM IST

Reuters |

Break on through to the other side: Charles Assisi tries contradiction practice

In a month-long experiment, I forced myself to switch sides, away from liberalism. The most startling result: not all of it was uncomfortable.

Face-to-face with oneself: Seated Woman by Pablo Picasso; 1927. (Artists Rights Society)

lifestyle

Updated on Mar 15, 2025 02:54 PM IST

ByCharles Assisi

JD Vance says green card holders cannot stay indefinitely in US, sparks a debate

JD Vance stirs a debate stating that green cards don't guarantee immigrants permanent residency in the US. His comments followed Mahmoud Khalil's arrest.

US Vice President JD Vance statement comes in response to the arrest of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder.(AFP)

world news

Updated on Mar 14, 2025 08:35 PM IST

ByHT News Desk

No takedowns of social media posts without creator’s response: SC

The top court’s observation signals a potential recalibration of the content moderation framework under Indian law, balancing state interests with the fundamental right to free speech.

The observation provides some hope to individuals who believe their content is being unfairly censored. (HT archive)

india news

Published on Mar 04, 2025 06:26 AM IST

ByUtkarsh Anand

SC allows podcast, wants new law for social media

Allahbadia had sought protection from arrest in criminal cases linked to distasteful and obscene remarks he made on a YouTube show

Acknowledging the potential implications of such regulation for online content creators, the court clarified that while it was not advocating blanket censorship, there was a pressing need for a structured framework to regulate content on social media platforms. (Shutterstock)

india news

Published on Mar 04, 2025 05:54 AM IST

ByUtkarsh Anand

JD Vance directly calls out Keir Starmer for ‘infringing on free speech’ in UK

At the Munich Security Conference, Vice President JD Vance called out UK PM Keir Starmer for actions seen as infringing on free speech.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets with U.S. President Donald Trump alongside U.S. Vice President JD Vance and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in the Oval Office at the White House on February 27, 2025 in Washington, D.C., U.S. Carl Court/Pool via REUTERS(via REUTERS)

world news

Published on Feb 28, 2025 08:23 AM IST

ByTuhin Das Mahapatra

What the Court missed in the Allahbadia case

The judiciary’s role is to test speech-restricting laws on the anvil of the Constitution’s fundamental rights — not to egg on the State to bring in such laws

New Delhi, Jan 27 (ANI): Supreme Court of India complex illuminates in Tricolour as part of 76th Republic Day celebrations, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo/Ritik Jain) (Ritik Jain)

opinion

Updated on Feb 24, 2025 08:32 PM IST

ByGautam Bhatia

Regulations in face of vulgarity

The top court has flagged larger concerns about free speech on social media, but is an obscenity law really the answer?

**EDS: THIRD PARTY** In this screenshot taken from a video posted by @BeerBicepsGuy via X on Feb. 10, 2025, social media personality Ranveer Allahbadia apologises for his remarks on reality show 'India’s Got Latent'. (@BeerBicepsGuy via PTI Photo) (PTI02_10_2025_000253B) (@BeerBicepsGuy)

editorials

Published on Feb 19, 2025 08:14 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

JD Vance’s Greta Thunberg joke sparks anger in Europe; ‘Not acceptable’

JD Vance took a surprising dig at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during a speech at the Munich Security Conference.

JD Vance delivers his speech during the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, southern Germany on February 14, 2025. (Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP)(AFP)

world news

Updated on Feb 16, 2025 08:48 AM IST

ByShweta Kukreti

Standing with Rushdie, protecting free speech

As the trial of Matar progresses, the focus is likely to shift to larger pressing concerns such as the right to free speech and the restrictions on creativity

(FILES) Indian-British novelist Salman Rushdie reacts on stage prior to a lecture from his book 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder', in Berlin on May 16, 2024. The man accused of trying to kill the author Salman Rushdie, leaving him blind in one eye, goes on trial Tuesday February 3, 2025 for attempted murder, according to state court filings. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP) (AFP)

editorials

Published on Feb 05, 2025 10:47 PM IST

ByHT Editorial

The View co-hosts divided over Carrie Underwood's Trump inauguration performance

Whoopi Goldberg threw her support behind Carrie Underwood as The View co-host Joy Behar criticised country singer's decision to perform for Donald Trump

Carrie Underwood performs during the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)(Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

world news

Published on Jan 15, 2025 09:18 PM IST

ByArya Vaishnavi

Elon Musk's X livestream with German far-right leader draws 1.9 lakh users

Elon Musk has “strongly recommended” that people vote for German far-right party AfD in the upcoming elections

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has extended support to the German far-right party AfD(REUTERS)

world news

Published on Jan 10, 2025 01:46 AM IST

AP |

Meta ends 10 fact-checker partnerships, some don't expect to survive: Report

Meta had informed International Fact-Checking Network that it was ending its partnerships just 45 minutes before it published a blog post about the decision.

This photo illustration created on January 7, 2025, in Washington, DC, shows an image of Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, and a phone displaying the download page for the Facebook app. Social media giant Meta on January 7, 2025, slashed its content moderation policies, including ending its US fact-checking program, in a major shift that conforms with the priorities of incoming president Donald Trump. (Drew Angerer/AFP)

business

Published on Jan 09, 2025 03:54 PM IST

ByHT News Desk | Edited by Abhyjith K. Ashokan

Why is Meta replacing stringent fact checks with ‘liberal’ community notes?

Critics termed Mark Zuckerberg's move part of Meta's latest series of efforts to mend ties with the upcoming administration under Donald Trump.

Social media giant Meta on January 7, 2025, slashed its content moderation policies, including ending its US fact-checking programme, in a major shift that conforms with the priorities of incoming president Donald Trump.(AFP)

world news

Published on Jan 08, 2025 08:28 AM IST

ByHT News Desk

New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens

world news

Updated on Dec 12, 2024 12:05 PM IST

AP |

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free speech news

Latest from free speech

The court considered the issue in a petition filed by Cure SMA Foundation that produced as evidence, videos where comedian Raina and four others were seen making fun of persons with disabilities

That a high court would balance reputational harm, economic interest, and speech freedoms shows an admirable constitutional sensibility

The petition contended that Kamra had consistently ridiculed and undermined the dignity of courts and judges with an intent to perpetuate lawlessness. It cited as examples Kamra’s posts on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) from 2020 and his stand-up comedy shows from 2022

Senior advocate Navroz Seervai, representing Kunal Kamra, also accused the enforcement machinery in the country of being ignorant of fundamental rights.

US-USA-TRUMP-MIGRATION-SOCIALMEDIA:US to screen social media of immigrants, rights advocates raise concerns

The debate is not about humour but about what sort of people we want to be and what we wish for in our democracy

INDIA-WIKIPEDIA/COURT (PIX):Wikimedia must remove India content deemed defamatory, court rules

Kunal Kamra accused the government of suppressing dissenting artists after facing backlash for a alleged joke about Eknath Shinde.

US has revoked over 300 international students' visas, sparking fears of more deportations. The crackdown targets students involved in campus protests.

There is a message for the political class in Supreme Court’s reiteration of the constitutional right

The Supreme Court remained emphatic that police officials are “bound to honour and uphold freedom of speech and expression conferred on all citizens”

The bench emphasised that the free expression of thoughts and views by individuals or groups is an integral part of a healthy, civilized society

In an editorial in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the party questioned why there was an extreme response to Kunal Kamra's comments on Eknath Shinde

Kharge on social media platform X, condemned attempts to suppress dissent and reiterated the significance of free speech in a democratic society.

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/FLORIDA-DOCUMENTARY (PIX):Florida mayor drops threat to evict cinema for screening 'No Other Land'

INDIA-WIKIPEDIA/COURT (PIX):Wikimedia challenges India content takedown, warns of chilling effect on free speech

In a month-long experiment, I forced myself to switch sides, away from liberalism. The most startling result: not all of it was uncomfortable.

JD Vance stirs a debate stating that green cards don't guarantee immigrants permanent residency in the US. His comments followed Mahmoud Khalil's arrest.

The top court’s observation signals a potential recalibration of the content moderation framework under Indian law, balancing state interests with the fundamental right to free speech.

Allahbadia had sought protection from arrest in criminal cases linked to distasteful and obscene remarks he made on a YouTube show

At the Munich Security Conference, Vice President JD Vance called out UK PM Keir Starmer for actions seen as infringing on free speech.

The judiciary’s role is to test speech-restricting laws on the anvil of the Constitution’s fundamental rights — not to egg on the State to bring in such laws

The top court has flagged larger concerns about free speech on social media, but is an obscenity law really the answer?

JD Vance took a surprising dig at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during a speech at the Munich Security Conference.

As the trial of Matar progresses, the focus is likely to shift to larger pressing concerns such as the right to free speech and the restrictions on creativity

Whoopi Goldberg threw her support behind Carrie Underwood as The View co-host Joy Behar criticised country singer's decision to perform for Donald Trump

Elon Musk has “strongly recommended” that people vote for German far-right party AfD in the upcoming elections

Meta had informed International Fact-Checking Network that it was ending its partnerships just 45 minutes before it published a blog post about the decision.

Critics termed Mark Zuckerberg's move part of Meta's latest series of efforts to mend ties with the upcoming administration under Donald Trump.

New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens

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