The Free Flow — July 10, 2025
University associations take Trump administration to trial over deportation orders, Turkey issues arrest warrant over online posts, Indian judge says mocking Modi is not protected speech, and more.
This Week At A Glance 🔎
— 🇺🇲 Trump Admin Goes to Trial Over Deportation Orders
— 🇹🇷 Turkey Issues Arrest Warrant Over Social Media Posts
— 🇮🇳 Indian Court Says Mocking Modi is Not Protected Speech
— 🇦🇱 Albania Adopts Anti-Disinformation Measures Despite Attacks on Press
— 🇵🇱 Poland Asks EU Commission to Investigate X
First of All 🇺🇲
» Free Speech Trial Over Trump-Era Deportation Orders Begins
Several university associations have filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s arrests and deportations of faculty and students participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and other political activities. The suit is one of the first to go to trial.
Details:
Plaintiffs claim the targeted ideological crackdown has terrified noncitizen students into silence and brought self-censorship in the classroom.
The government argues that the opposition’s case rests on a “misunderstanding of the First Amendment”, which “applies differently in the immigration context.”
Newly unsealed court documents and testimony reveal the administration relied on an anonymously run pro-Israel website, Canary Mission, to identify activists to target.
The Digital Age 🤖
» Turkey Issues Arrest Warrant Over Sharing Pictures of Political Party Leader
Prosecutors in Yüksekova issued an arrest warrant for journalist Nedim Türfent over four social media posts that allegedly spread “terrorist propaganda.”
Details:
Türfent posted images of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, and links to articles from Le Monde and Le Parisien discussing Öcalan’s public portrayal and activism.
Türfent argued he was not spreading propaganda, stating, “There is not a single statement of my own in these posts. They are news reports from France and Turkey that contain photos of Öcalan.”
» NetChoice Sues Minnesota Over Social Media Transparency Law
NetChoice, a tech trade group, has filed a federal lawsuit against Minnesota to block a new law that requires platforms to disclose their engagement metrics, content policies, and algorithms.
Details:
Effective July 1, the law requires platforms like Meta, X, and Snapchat to disclose various information about their content curation and presentation.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison defends the law as a necessary step to protect users, particularly minors, from “manipulation and exploitation.”
NetChoice argues that the First Amendment protects social media companies from being required to make mandated disclosures, which could compromise companies’ trade secrets and give the government editorial control over what messages are disseminated.
» CCIA and NetChoice Fight Texas Law Requiring Content Moderation
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetChoice filed a response brief in front of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a block on Texas’s SCOPE Act, a social media law that mandates the monitoring and filtering of online content.
Details:
The law would require platforms to monitor and block content deemed harmful, a provision critics say imposes direct state control over editorial content.
A district court halted parts of the law in 2024 due to its overly vague and broad language, which Texas subsequently appealed.
» India Orders Takedowns of Thousands of Accounts on X, Including Reuters
Social media platform X said it was “deeply concerned” after the Indian government ordered the blocking of 2,355 accounts on July 3, including international news outlets like Reuters and ReutersWorld.
Details:
X claims India’s Ministry of Electronics demanded it take action within one hour, without explanation. It also alleges it was threatened with criminal liability.
Many accounts were restored within 24 hours following public backlash, and X stated that the government had requested that Reuters' accounts be unblocked.
» Indian Court States that Social Media Posts Mocking PM Modi Are Not Protected Speech
The Allahabad High Court, which has jurisdiction over the North-Western Provinces of India, denied bail to a man accused of sharing a video showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an apology from Pakistan.
In the video, Modi was depicted walking alongside a donkey while dragging a military aircraft in a cart.
Details:
The court found that the content disrespected high dignitaries and created disharmony among citizens.
Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal observed that “freedom does not stretch to permit a person posting videos… disrespecting the Prime Minister of India, Indian Military and its Officers…”
» Bangladeshi Student Jailed After Facebook Post Criticizing 2024 Uprising
A student in Bangladesh was assaulted by locals and students in Tongi, who eventually handed him over to the police over social media posts criticizing the 2024 July uprising against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Details:
» Australian Tribunal Rules In Favor of Free Speech In Cross-Border Censorship Case
Australia’s Administrative Review Tribunal has overturned a government order to remove a social media post by Canadian activist “Billboard Chris” Elston, who criticized the appointment of a transgender male, Teddy Cook, to the WHO.
Details:
The eSafety Commissioner accused Elston of cyber abuse and ordered X to block the post.
Human rights organizations joined Elston to challenge the Commissioner’s decision, and the Tribunal sided with Elston, setting aside the removal of the post.
» ECHRs Rules Russia Violated Google’s Free Expression Rights
In Google LLC and Others v. Russia, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Russia breached Google’s free expression rights by issuing massive fines and coercive orders over YouTube content.
Details:
Russian authorities sued the company for refusing to remove political videos on YouTube deemed “unlawful” by the government and for failing to restore monetization features to Tsargrad TV’s YouTube channel, which the U.S. and the E.U. have sanctioned.
The Court found Russian courts failed to assess whether the content was accurate or posed specific risks, and lacked explicit evidence of harm.
The Brussels Effect: Europe and Beyond 🇪🇺
» EU Releases AI Code of Practice
On June 10, the European Union released a voluntary code of practice on general-purpose AI to help companies comply with the AI Act.
Details: Taking effect on August 2, the new code includes transparency requirements, copyright protections, and safety and security measures. However, enforcement by the EU AI Office will not commence for at least one year.
» Poland is Reporting AI Chatbot Grok to the European Commission
Poland’s digitisation minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski, announced the government’s plan to ask Brussels to investigate Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, over offensive comments about Polish politicians.
Details:
Just a day before Poland’s July 9 announcement, Grok removed what it called “inappropriate” social media posts following complaints that it produced content with antisemitic tropes and praise for Adolf Hitler.
Gawkowski said the ministry will comply with current regulations and report the violation to the EU Commission to “investigate and possibly impose a fine on X.”
» European Media Consortium Unveils Chatbot to Combat Disinformation
On July 1, European journalist organizations released ChatEurope, an AI chatbot that provides answers about European news based solely on articles from consortium members.
Details: The chatbot claims to always cite its sources, aiming to combat disinformation, and is available in seven languages.
» Albania Adopts Anti-Disinformation Strategy Amid Criticism
On July 4, Albania’s parliament adopted a national Strategy on Disinformation, aiming to address cyberattacks threatening elections, media, and security.
Key Objectives Include:
Protecting national security through strengthened partnerships with NATO, the EU, and allies.
Safeguarding the economy and critical sectors from unfriendly foreign financing.
Opposition:
Isa Myzyraj, head of the Association of Journalists of Albania, points out that while part of the ruling party's stated objective is to strengthen investigative journalism, it has actively attacked, intimidated, and "done everything to 'kill' this journalism."
“The Disinformation Strategy presented by the Socialist Party through a one-sided and non-inclusive commission is a bad moment for democracy and media freedom,” Myzyraj said.
» Ex-State Dept. Official Urges Trump to Target EU Disinformation Law
After the once-voluntary EU Code of Practice on Disinformation became mandatory under the Digital Services Act, as reported in last week’s Free Flow, former U.S. State Department Cybersecurity official Mike Benz called on Trump to “knock [it] the f out.”
Details: In a post on X, Benz urged Trump to use “every tool in the hardball diplomacy toolkit,” including trade, aid, security leverage, and even NATO participation, to target the legislation.
Press Freedom Watch 🗞️
UN Adopts Resolution on Journalist Safety: On July 7, the UN Human Rights Council unanimously passed a resolution advancing protections for journalists worldwide. Led by Austria and co-sponsored by over 70 countries, the initiative addresses SLAPPs, surveillance, armed conflict, social media platform responsibility, and other related issues. It also mandated the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct a study to assess national frameworks for the protection of journalists.
Protest Watch ✊
31 Dead and 532 Arrested at Kenyan Protests: At least 31 people died and 532 were arrested following anti-government protests across Kenya on July 7. The protests are linked to outrage over the death of a blogger in police custody and the shooting of an unarmed civilian by police, as reported in previous Free Flows.
Protesters Arrested Under UK Terror Law for Supporting “Palestine Action”: In a direct challenge to the UK’s newly imposed ban on Palestine Action, a recently designated terrorist organization, around 29 demonstrators, including an 83-year-old priest, were arrested in Parliament Square for holding signs that read “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
Pakistan Detains Protesters Over Activist’s Killing: Police in Karachi arrested Amna Baloch and three others during a protest organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) over the alleged killing of Zeeshan Zaheer. Zaheer, a BYC member who had long campaigned for his disappeared father, was found shot dead after reportedly being abducted by a state-backed militia. Police stopped demonstrators and used force to break up the gathering before the march could start.
Quick Hits 💨
Greenpeace Tests EU Anti-SLAPP Directive in Dutch Court: Greenpeace International has brought a landmark case in Amsterdam against Energy Transfer, the U.S. company behind the SLAPP suits targeting the group over its support for the Standing Rock protests. The hearing marks the first test of Europe’s anti-SLAPP directive.
University of Bern Cancels Amnesty Int Event With UN Palestine Expert Over ‘Balance’ Concerns: The University of Bern pulled an Amnesty International panel featuring UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese after determining the event no longer met its standards for being “science-based and balanced.” The move came as Albanese released a UN report accusing over 60 global companies of profiting from Israel’s occupation.
Romanian Politician Charged for Glorifying Fascist WWII Figures: Călin Georgescu, a far-right figure who briefly led Romania’s annulled presidential race, has been charged with endorsing fascism in interviews, online posts, and public speeches. If convicted, Georgescu faces between three months and three years in prison.
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Artists Amid UN Rights Review and Wartime Censorship: More than 800 people, particularly artists, have been arrested in Iran on charges of collaborating with Israel, as well as rapper Toomaj Salehi, who was charged with “inciting people to war.”
Irish PM Reaffirms Push for Hate Speech Law Reform: Taoiseach (Chief) Micheál Martin reaffirmed his government’s commitment to updating Ireland’s hate speech laws to meet EU standards, as previously reported in the Free Flow, in a low-profile video released ahead of Dublin Pride.
Ohio Defamation Case Tests New Anti-SLAPP Law: A defamation lawsuit in Cambridge, Ohio, may become the first to invoke the state’s new anti-SLAPP statute. The defendant, Maegin George, argues she didn’t make many of the statements her ex-husband, Johnathan George, alleges, and that what she has said is not defamatory. George maintains she falsely accused him of incest, pedophilia, and attempting to pay for sex.
Student Wins Free Speech Battle Over ‘Illegal Aliens’ Remark: A North Carolina student suspended for using the term “illegal aliens” during a classroom discussion has reached a legal settlement with Davidson County Schools after he asked “Do you mean space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards?” in English class. A federal judge approved the agreement, which includes a public apology and removal of a racial bias mark from the student’s record.
Ava Sjursen is a communications intern at The Future of Free Speech and a student at Boston College studying communications and political science.
Ashley Haek is a communications coordinator at The Future of Free Speech.