Intellectual Freedom News 8/9/2024
Highlights
- As LGBTQ library material comes under fire, California may ban book bans | Cal Matters (CA)
- Advocates react to Utah ban of 13 books in schools and libraries: ‘It’s a tragedy’ | Guardian (UT)
Censorship
- North Hunterdon-Voorhees keeps “Let’s Talk About It” on high school library shelves | Out in Jersey (NJ)
- Popular and critically acclaimed book titles banned statewide in Utah schools | PEN America (UT)
- Lone left-leaning Lafayette library board member James Thomas resigns | Acadiana Advocate (LA)
- Louisiana Coalition Offers Model for Turning Back Anti-Library Legislation | School Library Journal (LA)
- Sarasota County School Board removing library books in scary, excessive manner | Herald-Tribune (FL)
- Mat-Su Borough School District ordered to return banned books before school starts | Alaska’s News Source (AK)
- WSMV4 Fact Check: Wilson County school adjusts classroom library access over new law regulating reading materials | WSMV (TN)
- School board in Florida removes Ban This Book despite the recommendation of a review committee | NCAC (FL)
- King George School Board considers banning two books from middle school | Fredericksburg Free Press (VA)
- Greenville School District meets to discuss book banning policy | WSPA (SC)
- Alpena voters approve library tax, despite fuss over sex-themed books | Bridge Michigan (MI)
- Drag queen story hour is back on — but not through Washoe County libraries | Reno Gazette Journal (NV)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- U.S. Sues TikTok for Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Violations | National Law Review
- What the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act Would Mean for Schools | Gov Tech
First Amendment & Civil Rights
- California JPIA shares insights on responding to first amendment audits | Pulbic CEO
- Former Kansas police chief will face criminal charge after raid on newspaper, prosecutors say | CNN (KS)
- More Than Half of Americans Think the First Amendment Provides Too Many Rights | Reason
- ACLU Announces Roadmap to Protecting and Expanding Abortion and Birth Control Access Under a Harris Administration | ACLU
- Judge upholds Ohio’s gender-affirming care ban; civil rights group vows immediate appeal | News-Herald (OH)
Academic Freedom & Student Speech
- VICTORY: California college that censored conservative students must pay $330,000, adopt new speech-protective policy, and train staff | FIRE (CA)
- Student journalists matter. It’s time Georgia passes the New Voices law that they deserve. | Georgia Recorder (GA)
- Florida Teachers Union Files Suit to Protect University Faculty Rights | NEA (FL)
Legislation
- California advances library book bans ban for targeting LGBTQ, sexual content | Center Square (CA)
- Bill allowing city and county officials to terminate library board members prefiled for 2025 | Alabama Reflector (AL)
State & Local Governance
- Utah Bans 13 Books From All Public Schools | New York Times (UT)
Social Media
- Elon Musk’s X accused of bias after pro-Harris accounts labeled as ‘spam’ | Washington Post
- Arizona Dept. of Education ‘stifled’ political voices on social media | AZFamily (AZ)
Net Neutrality & Broadband Access
- Court blocks net neutrality, says ISPs are likely to win case against FCC | Ars Technica
- Broadband Breakfast on August 14, 2024 – Net Neutrality, Chevron Deference and the Sixth Circuit Stay | Broadband Breakfast
Disinformation & Media Literacy
- New report reveals how disinformation targets Black communities | WABE
- Social media is flooded with disinformation about the presidential candidates | NPR
- Russian disinformation slams Paris and amplifies Khelif debate to undermine the Olympics | AP
- Deceptive Trends: The Societal Impact of Disinformation on TikTok | Australian Institute of International Affairs
- Australia and U.S. Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Fight Disinformation | Homeland Security
International
- Liverpool library torched by far-right rioters raises repair funds | Guardian (UK)
- Turkey blocks access to Instagram. It’s in response to removal of posts on Hamas chief, reports say | AP (Turkey)
Around the Web
- High School Students Explain Why We Can’t Let Classroom Censorship Win | ACLU
- Election 2024: Volusia school board candidates discuss Black history, book challenges | Daytona Beach News-Journal
- How to talk about race in the classroom | Higher Ed Dive
- No censorship zone: New York Public Library celebrates books targeted by bans | ABC7
- Friends of Douglas Library in Hebron dissolves amidst controversy with town, library officials | CT Insider (CT)
- Project 2025: What a second Trump term could mean for media and technology policies | Brookings
- Emotions run high at library budget hearing in Hayden | Coer d’Alene Post Falls Press
ALA News
- Core Webinar Series: Library Facility Master Planning
- Core Webinar: Trailblazing Pathways Across the Digital Divide
- ALSC supports 2024 Bound to Stay Bound, Melcher Scholarships
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