News
Art and Creative Acts That Were Censored in 2020
Human rights experts have expressed distress that the pandemic has increased attacks against free speech, LBGTQ+ rights, and peaceful assembly.
Censorship
News
Protesting Chinese Censorship Around COVID-19, Artist Takes Vow of Silence
For his #shutupfor30days project, artist and activist Brother Nut used metal clasps, duct tape, and other props to physically seal his mouth during the entire month of June.
Opinion
Queer, Feminist Art Is Still a Crime In Russia
Leading up to the July 1 election — which would allow Vladimir Putin to remain president through 2036 — queer people have been disturbingly targeted.
News
SFMOMA Accused of Censoring Black Voices After Removing Comment by Former Employee
Taylor Brandon commented under the museum’s Instagram post in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and said, “Having black people on your homepage/feed is not enough.” Artists and SFMOMA employees have spoken out in agreement.
News
Artists Accuse New Mexico Museum of Art of Censoring Anti-fracking Work
The museum blames misunderstanding, but zine artists say tribal perspectives on oil and gas were silenced.
News
As TikTok's Popularity Rises, Concerns Arise Over App's Censorship and Security
The app is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, which has been accused of censoring users for posting content about issues including the persecution of Uighur Muslims and Hong Kong.
Art
Challenging Censorship, One Meticulous Artwork at a Time
Xie's latest exhibition at Asia Society Museum grapples with the long history of book banning in his home country of China.
News
Colombians Decry Censorship After Government Officials Paint Over Mural About Extrajudicial Killings
Graffiti artists collaborated to represent the military apparatus that executed thousands of poor farmers, youths, and other civilians. But dozens of military officials and police proceeded to cover the mural with white paint.
News
Instagram Held a Private Meeting With Artists About Its Nudity Policies
Just hours later, ironically, one of the participating artists, Micol Hebron, had her account suspended for posting a topless photo outside of Instagram headquarters.
Art
Prisons Are Responsible for the “Nation’s Largest Book Ban,” Says PEN America
A PEN America report on book regulations in prisons reveals that incarcerated people are being denied access to literature on race and civil rights, among other topics.
In Brief
Facebook Settles 8-Year Case With Teacher Who Posted Courbet’s “Origin of the World”
After an eight-year legal battle, the company has finally reached an agreement with Frédéric Durand-Baïssas. The social media giant will make an unspecified donation to a French street art association, Durand's lawyer said.
In Brief
Human Rights Activist Arrested in Poland for Posters Featuring Virgin Mary with LGBTQ Halo
Elżbieta Podlesna's house was raided and she was charged with "offending religious sentiment" in the central Polish city of Płock.