The Free Flow — June 26, 2025

U.S. State Department requires visa applicants to make social accounts public, Cuban activist sentenced to 10 years over Facebook dissent, China increases surveillance with digital ID, and more.

This Week At A Glance 🔎

—🇺🇲 State Department requires visa applicants to make social accounts public

—🇨🇺 Cuban activist sentenced to 10 years over Facebook dissent

—🇨🇳 China increases surveillance with digital ID

—🇮🇳 Indian state Karnataka seeks to criminalize “fake news”

—🇮🇱 Israel requires pre-approval to broadcast in combat zones

—🇷🇺 Russia throttles foreign websites and rolls out state-run messenger app

First of All 🇺🇲

» Judge Extends Block on Trump’s Harvard Foreign Student Ban

• A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from enforcing a proclamation that would have barred international students accepted to Harvard University from entering the country.

• Details:

  • The injunction extends the temporary block issued on June 5, as reported in that week’s Free Flow.

  • Harvard’s lawsuit against the Trump administration’s decision to freeze $2.2 billion of its funding remains pending, with 16 Republican-led states’ attorneys general filing an amicus brief in support of the freeze.

• Judge Allison Burroughs’ Opinion:

  • “This case is about core constitutional rights that must be safeguarded…Here, the government’s efforts to control a reputable academic institution and squelch diverse viewpoints, seemingly because they are, in some instances, opposed to this Administration‘s own views, threaten these rights.”

» State Department Requires Visa Applicants to Make Social Media Public

• The U.S. State Department has resumed student visa interviews with increased social media screening guidelines that require all applicants to have their social media accounts open to public viewing. The new guidance applies to F, M, or J visas, which are used for educational or cultural exchange purposes.

• Details:

  • The Department had paused student visa interviews last month while drafting new vetting standards, as reported in a late-May Free Flow.

  • Harvard University served as a pilot case for enhanced social media screening procedures, as mentioned in a June 5 Free Flow.

  • Consular officers will screen for signs of hostility toward the U.S., and applicants who fail to comply will be seen as “evading scrutiny.”

» ACLU Sues Tennessee Over Pro-Immigration Voting Ban

• The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee filed a lawsuit against Tennessee’s newly enacted law that criminalizes locally elected officials who vote in favor of pro-immigration policies.

• Details:

  • The law imposes penalties of up to six years in jail for officials who adopt, enact, or vote for policies that contradict the state’s mandated stance on immigration enforcement.

  • The ACLU’s lawsuit argues that “In criminalizing voting itself, Tennessee has cast a net of criminality over the entire local democratic process and has warped the foundational democratic principle that elected representatives must be free to debate issues without fear of recrimination.”

» Texas Passes Law Limiting Expressive Activity on Campus

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 2972 this week, placing restrictions on when, where, and how students at public colleges can engage in expressive activities.

• Details:

  • The law rescinds a 2019 Abbott-approved bill that designated all outdoor campus spaces as traditional public forums, allowing administrators to select which parts of campus can be used for expressive activity.

  • It narrows “expressive activity” rights to students and employees only, allowing administrators to restrict broader public participation.

  • It also includes expanded time restrictions, prohibits the use of masks in protests, and bars the dismounting of the U.S. or state flag.

• The law’s requirements sparked bipartisan concern, with college conservatives warning events such as candlelight vigils for veterans or aborted fetuses could also be at risk.

» Journalists and Demonstrators Sue DHS Over Their Alleged Use of Force at LA Protests

• The ACLU Foundation of Southern California has joined journalist organizations, reporters, and protesters to file a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security for using excessive and retaliatory force to silence dissent.

• Details:

  • The suit details authorities’ use of tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, impact munitions, and other crowd-control weapons against peaceful demonstrators, observers, and reporters.

  • The lawsuit follows a similar suit filed by the Los Angeles Press Club on June 16 against the city and the police chief for using excessive force to target journalists covering the protests, as previously reported on Free Flow.

The Digital Age 🤖

» Media Matters Sues FTC Over Retaliatory Investigation

• Media Matters, a left-leaning media watchdog, has filed a lawsuit against the FTC, alleging that its investigation into the organization is a retaliatory effort in response to its reporting about extremist content on X.

• Details:

  • After Media Matters reported advertisements on X were appearing next to pro-Nazi content, FTC officials accused the organization of illegal collusion with advertisers.

  • The watchdog counters that the FTC opened the investigation on behalf of Elon Musk, the owner of X, who, until recently, played an important role in the Trump administration.

» Trump Extends TikTok Sale Deadline

• President Trump has signed a new executive order pushing back the deadline for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the popular app to an American owner until September 17.

• Details: This marks the Trump administration’s third extension of the sale deadline, which according to the Tik Tok Divestiture law itself could have not been extended post January 19, 2025.

» Cuban Activist Faces 10-Year Sentence for Protesting Castro Regime on Facebook

• Cuban prosecutors are seeking a decade-long prison term for Alexander Verdecia, a Christian activist accused of “inciting crime” and “propaganda against the constitutional order” for posts critical of the regime on social media.

• Details:

  • Screenshots of Verdecia’s posts calling out internet blackouts, food shortages, and political oppression were submitted by Interior Ministry agents, who have built the case against him.

  • Verdecia’s wife has stated that he will defend himself at trial to avoid hiring lawyers who are aligned with the state system.

» Ethiopia Imprisons Man for 'Anti-Government Propaganda' on Social Media

• Ethiopia’s Federal High Court sentenced Wondimagegn Beregena to seven years in prison for spreading “incitement to armed conflict,” after he expressed alignment with Fano, an Amhara militia group, on TikTok and WhatsApp.

• Details: Beregena also posted allegations that the government was demolishing homes in Arba Mich, which officials claim is false and intended to sow unrest.

» Internet Throttling in Russia Threatens Foreign Website Hosts

• Starting in early June, Russian users began experiencing difficulty accessing websites that rely on the U.S. web infrastructure services Cloudflare and Digital Ocean, as well as Germany’s Hetzner.

• Details: User reports mirror those sparked by disruptions to the French cloud computing company OVH in late May, although Russia’s telecom regulator, Roskomnadzor, has not issued a formal statement on the alleged throttling.

» Russia Rolls Out State-Messenger App Sparking Concerns of Telegram and WhatsApp Takedowns

• On June 10, the Russian Parliament passed a law to create a messenger app “with the ability to use state services,” days after the Minister of Digital Development revealed it had already developed a “fully Russian messenger.”

• Details:

  • Schools will now be required to use the new messenger app, which allows users to use their electronic signatures to sign documents, verify information such as identity, age, educational qualifications, and entitlement to benefits.

  • Digital advocates have expressed concern that the launch will provide an impetus for the takedown of Telegram and WhatsApp.

» Russian Court Fines Wikimedia Over Alleged Propaganda

• A Moscow court fined the Wikimedia Foundation 3 million rubles (approx $38,000) over “propaganda of pedophilia,” although it did not specify the what specific content that prompted the case.

• Details:

  • The Wikimedia Foundation’s Russian division closed in December 2023, although the Russian-language version of Wikipedia continued to operate.

  • Russia’s telecom regulator Roskomnadzor has previously accused Wikipedia of hosting false information about the war in Ukraine.

» German Law Enforcement Launches Operation Targeting Online Hate Speech

• German police have said they will take action in 180 cases in their annual operation to target online hate speech.

• Details:

  • The operation has been taking place annually for several years and is led by the Federal Criminal Police Office.

  • Investigations focus on “radical right-wing material”, including insults to politicians that are punishable by law.

  • Authorities said they will take action in cases connected with over 140 investigations, including 65 property searches over the past year.

• Our Executive Director Jacob Mchangama recently posted a thread on X about Germany’s failed attempts to crackdown on extremism.

» Indian State of Karnataka Proposes Criminalization of “Fake News” and “Offensive” Content

• The Karnataka government has introduced a draft bill that criminalizes the spread of misinformation, anti-feminist, or anti-Hindu content, with penalties of up to seven years in prison and hefty fines.

• Details:

  • The draft's definition of “fake news” includes misquoting statements, editing audio or video to distort facts or context, and disseminating doctored media, and extends liability beyond individuals to social media platforms.

  • It also proposes the creation of a six-member Fake News on Social Media Regulatory Authority to enforce the legislation and grants special courts the power to issue corrections and block offensive content.

» China Increases Digital Surveillance with Virtual ID System

• China introduced a voluntary national virtual ID system to standardize identity verification across the internet. It aims to replace platform-by-platform identity checks with a state-issued virtual ID, allowing users to sign in across multiple apps and websites.

• Details:

  • More than 6 million people have registered for the ID, with the system set to take effect in mid-July.

  • A law professor at the University of Hong Kong expressed concerns that as the system becomes more integrated, users will struggle to opt out of the ID while risking data leaks.

» University of Sydney Imposes Sweeping Restrictions on Campus Speech

• On June 2, the University of Sydney unveiled new policies to restrict political expression by students and staff.

• New Restrictions Include:

  • Banning social media posts that risk “psychosocial harm” while engaged in “university-related conduct,” including posts made while physically on campus or using university WiFi, posts made during work hours, and anonymous or pseudonymous speech.

  • Prohibiting staff from identifying themselves with their professional titles or students from referencing their enrollment status when expressing their political views online, and political statements in lectures or mass emails.

  • Allowing the Vice Chancellor to veto the display of any flag on campus and requiring authorization details on campus posters.

The Brussels Effect: Europe and Beyond 🇪🇺

» Ireland and France Call on EU to Mandate Age Verification on Social Media

• Irish Minister for Media, Patrick O'Donovan, and French Minister for Digital Affairs, Clara Chappaz, have signed a letter urging the European Commission to mandate age verification across social media platforms.

• Details:

  • Their proposal aims to integrate age checks into platform guidelines under the Digital Services Act.

  • A new code introduced by broadcasting regulator Coimisiún na Meán would require platforms to implement robust age verification, including identity checks, with penalties of up to €20 million or 10% of turnover for violations.

Press Freedom Watch 🗞️

• Israel Requires Pre-Approval for Media Coverage of Combat Zones: On June 19, the Israeli Government Press Office sent its fourth message in less than a week to foreign correspondents in the country detailing new censorship guidelines. The message stated, “Any live or recorded broadcast from a combat zone or missile impact site requires prior written approval from the military censor, covering both the location and how it is described. The update follows the government’s strikes against Iran.

• Azerbaijan Jails Seven Independent Journalists: A court in Azerbaijan sentenced a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist and six other journalists to prison terms ranging from 7.5 to 9 years. Authorities accused them of “smuggling foreign currency,” although all were prosecuted without evidence. Press Freedom advocates have called the sentences “purely political,” accusing the government of targeting journalists exposing corruption.

• Togo Suspends French Broadcasters Over Alleged Bias: The Togolese High Authority for Audiovisual Communication has suspended Radio France Internationale and France 24 for three months over alleged impartiality and inaccurate reporting that “undermines the stability of republican institutions and the country’s image.” Authorities have not yet identified what reporting led to the decision, which comes amid increased criticism of President Faure Gnassingbé and mass arrests of protesters mentioned in last week’s Free Flow.

• Switzerland Police Raid Journalist’s Home: On June 3, Swiss police officers raided the home of economic journalist Lukas Haessig and the offices of his independent financial blog, Inside Paradeplatz, after he allegedly used confidential banking data to report on deals made by the former CEO of the bank Raiffeisen. Officers confiscated his laptop, a cell phone, and several documents under a controversial banking secrecy law.

• Turkish Journalist Arrested Over YouTube Broadcast: Fatih Altyalı, a Turkish journalist, was arrested on June 21, hours after a portion of his YouTube broadcast, where he responded to a poll suggesting 70 percent of Turkish people would oppose a proposal allowing the President to remain in power indefinitely, went viral. Although Altyalı remains in pretrial detention, three days after his arrest Türkiye’s Radio and Television Supreme Council warned he must apply for an internet broadcasting license within 72 hours, submit the required documents, and pay a three month licensing fee for his YouTube channel to remain online.

• German Court Overturns Ban on Far-Right Magazine: A Leipzig court has lifted Germany's July 2024 ban on Compact, a far-right magazine the Interior Ministry said “undermined the German constitution” and “attacked minorities.” As reported in last week’s Free Flow, the magazine resumed publishing after the case proceeded, following a partial appeal win in August 2024. The court ruled that while the magazine published anti-constitutional content, it did not justify a ban.

• NJ Supreme Court Bars Journalists from Publishing Officials’ Home Addresses: In a unanimous ruling, the New Jersey Supreme Court upheld "Daniel’s Law," blocking journalists from publishing the home addresses of law enforcement and judicial officials, even when lawfully obtained. Mara Gassman, a senior staff attorney at the Reporter’s Committee for the Freedom of the Press, said, “The reality in this day and age is that a legitimate news report is not going to be the primary way an address is going to come out.”

Protest Watch ✊

• Kenyan Police Shoot Protester Amid Blogger Death Protests: An Associated Press journalist witnessed a Kenyan police officer, who had concealed his face with a mask, shoot an unarmed bystander at close range, during protests over the death of a blogger in custody.

• Council of Europe Warns Against German Protest Restrictions: In a letter to the German Interior Minister, the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner, Michael O’Flaherty expressed concern over German authorities curtailing Arabic language and cultural symbols during Gaza protests, as well as “intrusive surveillance” and “arbitrary police checks” of demonstrators.

• Protesters Detained for Mask-Wearing at Savannah Rallies: Several people were detained for wearing masks at “No Kings” protests in Savannah and Beaufort County. According to Georgia state law, wearing a mask to conceal one’s identity is a misdemeanor, although there are several exceptions, including the use of masks for public health purposes.

Quick Hits 💨

• Belarus Frees Opposition Leader After U.S. Envoy Visit: After the retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg met with the Belarusian President Lukashenko in Minsk, the nation released prominent opposition figure Sergei Tikhanovsky, along with more than a dozen other political prisoners. Officials around the world welcomed their release, while emphasizing that the remaining prisoners must also be freed.

• Georgian Court Issues Fine Over Facebook Post: A Georgian city court fined Giorgi Chkheidze ₾2,500 ($920) over a comment made on Facebook about Interior Ministry representative Tamta Kimbarishvili. The Ministry of Internal Affairs said Chkheidze’s comment constitutes an insult to a public official, an illegal offense in Tbilisi.

• Fifth Circuit Blocks Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Classroom Mandate: In Rev. Roake v. Brumley the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit unanimously struck down Louisiana’s law requiring public schools to display a government-approved, Protestant version of the Ten Commandments in every classroom. The court upheld a prior injunction preventing state officials and school boards from implementing the statute.

• Romania Imprisons Man for Selling T-Shirts with Extremist Symbols: A Romanian court last month handed down a suspended prison sentence to a man who sold apparel with symbols and slogans linked to far-right, ultra-nationalist, and fascist movements, marking the first such ruling in over two decades.

• Irish Rapper Released on Bail after Being Charged Under Terrorism Law: Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh of the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap was released on unconditional bail after he was accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London gig and arrested on a terror charge, as mentioned in a previous Free Flow.

• Pakistani Court Acquits After 24 Years on Death Row for Blasphemy: The Supreme Court of Pakistan acquitted Anwar Kenneth, a 72-year-old Catholic, of blasphemy allegations that kept him on death row for 24 years. The court decision was made in view of his “mental illness” that renders his conviction inapplicable.

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  Ashley Haek is a communications coordinator at The Future of Free Speech.

  Ava Sjursen is a communications intern at The Future of Free Speech and a student at Boston College studying communications and political science.

  Hirad Mirami is a research assistant at The Future of Free Speech and a student at the University of Chicago studying economics and history.