Arizona Senator Under Investigation for Social Media Post & Russia Threatens Full Ban on WhatsApp | The Free Flow 12/4/25
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly under investigation for social media post, Russia threatens full ban on WhatsApp, European Parliament passes resolution on social media age restrictions, and more.
This Week At A Glance 🔎
— 🇺🇲 Arizona Senator Under Investigation for Social Media Post
— 🇷🇺 Russia Threatens Full Ban on WhatsApp
— 🇪🇺 European Parliament Passes Resolution on Social Media Age Restrictions
— 🇨🇳 Student Arrested for Petition to Investigate Deadly Fire in Hong Kong
— 🇬🇧 Dozens Arrested Across England for Supporting ‘Palestine Action’
First of All 🇺🇲
» Arizona Senator Under Investigation for Social Media Post
The U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has ordered the U.S. Navy Secretary, John Phelan, to look into “potentially unlawful comments” made by Arizona Senator Mark Kelly in a social media video, following the Pentagon’s announcement of its own investigation.
Background:
The video showed Kelly alongside other lawmakers, reminding public service workers, intelligence officers, and soldiers that they have a right to refuse unlawful orders.
The Pentagon announced on November 24 that it is investigating Kelly for possible breaches of military law, and that the comments in the video interfered with the “loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces.”
Kelly, a veteran, could face “recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures,” the Pentagon added.
Hegseth issued a statement that said “Kelly’s conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately,” followed by a November 25 memorandum directing Phelan to launch an investigation.
President Trump also accused the group of “seditious behavior at the highest level” on social media and suggested they could be jailed or executed.
» Texas Man Faces Up to 40 Years in Prison for ‘Insurrectionist Propaganda’
Daniel Rolando Sanchez faces up to 40 years in prison for transporting “anti-law enforcement, anti-government, and anti-immigration enforcement documents.”
Details:
Sanchez is among nine members of what the Justice Department calls a “North Texas Antifa Cell,” facing charges that range from attempted murder to providing materials to support terrorists.
The charges are connected to a protest that turned violent at the Prairieland Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4, and is believed to have been organized by the group.
Although Sanchez is a member of the “Cell,” he was not at the facility when protesters allegedly began shooting.
His wife, Maricela Rueda, was present at the protest and arrested. She called Sanchez from Johnston County Jail and told him to “move whatever you need to move at the house.”
Officers watched Sanchez transport a box to another residence and arrested him on state traffic offenses shortly after.
They then conducted a search warrant at the second residence and found “a handwritten training, tactics, and planning document for civil unrest with anti-law enforcement, anti-government, and anti-Trump sentiments” in the box.
The Digital Age 🤖
» Court Says Florida Can Enforce Social Media Ban for Minors
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an injunction against HB 3 on November 25, a law that bans social media use for children under 14, while lawsuits continue.
Details:
The law requires parental consent for 14-year-olds to use platforms with engagement features such as infinite scroll and autoplay.
The injunction has been lifted, though two tech trade groups, NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, continue to challenge the law in court.
» Russia Threatens Full Ban on WhatsApp
Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, threatened to block WhatsApp entirely if it fails to comply with Russian law.
Background:
Russia began limiting calls on WhatsApp and Telegram in August, after accusing the platforms of refusing to share information with authorities in fraud and terrorism cases, as detailed in a previous Free Flow.
On November 28, Roskomnadzor accused WhatsApp of failing to comply with requirements to prevent and combat crime for the second time.
» Report Shows China is Using AI to Expand Censorship and Surveillance
A new report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute reveals that China is deploying AI to make its existing systems of online censorship and surveillance more efficient, though experts caution that the real capabilities of these systems remain difficult to verify.
Tech Companies as Enforcers:
Chinese tech giants like Baidu, Tencent, and ByteDance (TikTok’s owner) are developing AI tools to automate content moderation that goes beyond standard practices to include censoring politically sensitive material.
Tencent’s content moderation system can automatically generate risk scores based on user behavior and track repeat offenders across WeChat platforms and chat groups.
Some companies are now selling these AI-powered censorship tools to other firms seeking to comply with Chinese regulations.
Targeting Minority Languages:
To overcome language barriers in monitoring ethnic minorities, the government is investing in AI language models for Tibetan, Uyghur, and Mongolian languages. A Beijing research lab working on these models states on its website that the goal is to analyze public opinion and promote “ethnic unity.”
The Brussels Effect: Europe and Beyond 🇪🇺
» European Parliament Passes Resolution on Social Media Age Restrictions
On November 26, members of the European Parliament passed a resolution on social media bans for children under 16 by a majority.
Details:
Although it is not legally binding, the resolution follows a growing wave of concern over the addictive impact of social media on children’s mental health.
483 MEPs adopted the resolution, while 92 opposed it and 86 abstained, allowing it to pass only a week after the European Commission announced delays to changes to its digital laws in a push to lighten regulation.
» Dozens Arrested Across England for Support of ‘Palestine Action’
Dozens of protesters have been arrested during pro-Palestine demonstrations across England on November 29 under the Terrorism Act for supporting the recently proscribed group, Palestine Action.
Details:
Defend Our Juries, who organized the demonstrations in ten locations, said they were protesting “against our Government’s complicity in genocide and against the ban on Palestine Action.”
In Bristol, 30 demonstrators at College Green were arrested on suspicion of displaying articles in support of a proscribed organization.
Twenty-five protesters carrying placards that expressed support for Palestine Action were arrested at a rally in Birmingham’s Chamberlain Square, and 10 in Norwich for the same suspicion.
» Macron Seeks to Introduce Summary Proceedings Against Disinformation
French President Emmanuel Macron has asked the government for proposals to introduce summary proceedings, which allow courts to expedite or bypass certain formal procedures and to resolve urgent cases quickly.
These specific summary proceedings he wants to add are against “false information” or “information that is harmful” to a person’s dignity on social media.
Details:
The President said he wanted the procedure incorporated into existing law “as soon as possible,” and that judges should be able to rule within 48 hours and order the alleged harassers to take down their posts.
Macron cited examples of misinformation, such as a false claim that France had sent 1,000 legionnaires to the Ukraine front, and rumors that his wife, Brigitte Macron, was born a man.
Marcon also suggested that professional bodies representing the media should establish certificates for outlets that fact-check and follow a code of “ethics.”
Free Speech Recession 🌍
» University Student Arrested for Petitioning to Investigate Deadly Fire in Hong Kong
On November 29, police arrested 24-year-old university student Miles Kwan on suspicion of trying to incite sedition after launching an online petition demanding an independent investigation of a deadly fire in a high-rise apartment building in Hong Kong.
Details:
Kwan was part of a group that spread the petition, which also demanded government accountability, resettlement for residents, and a review of construction oversight.
The petition had reached over 10,000 signatures before it was closed.
The same day as Kwan’s arrest, China’s national security authorities said, “We sternly warn the anti-China disruptors who attempt to ‘disrupt Hong Kong through disaster.’ No matter what methods you use, you will certainly be held accountable and strictly punished…”
» Myanmar Military Junta Cracks Down on Free Speech Ahead of Elections
On November 19, the Myanmar military junta enacted a new election law that criminalizes any “speech, organizing, inciting, protesting, or distributing leaflets in order to destroy a part of the electoral process.”
Details:
The junta filed charges against AAMIJ News under the law, over its coverage of a candidate’s alleged involvement in drug distribution ahead of the December 28 general election.
The law imposes penalties, including three to seven years imprisonment and up to 10 years for “group offenses.”
Damaging ballot papers or polling stations, and intimidating or harming voters, candidates, or election workers could also result in sentences up to 20 years, and the death penalty if anyone is killed during an attempt to disrupt the election.
Ashley Haek is a communications coordinator and research assistant at The Future of Free Speech.