Chinese actor Yu Menglong, 37, died in Beijing on September 11, 2025. Officially ruled an accidental fall, his death has made speculation online, fuelling debates across China and Taiwan. Suppressed domestic discussion collided with diaspora discourse, highlighting tensions between PRC narrative control and cross-border media scrutiny. The case reveals the limits of digital censorship, the power of global fandom, and the complexities of information in a politically charged environment
The Trump administration’s December 2025 policy actions—targeting content moderation workers through visa restrictions, attacking European digital regulation, and endorsing nationalist movements abroad, reveal a coordinated strategy reframing “free speech” as a political weapon. These measures undermine platform accountability, restrict international cooperation, and threaten the democratic infrastructure that protects artistic expression and research worldwide.
45 of the censorship cases published on Mimeta Memos have been analyzed by an AI-powered platform used for monitoring violations of artistic freedom. Instead of only summarizing text, it looks at meaning and context, using word sense disambiguation to understand sensitive, political, and legal terms correctly in multiple languages. It also performs relationship extraction, identifying who did what, where, and when in each case, so that actors, events, places, and timelines can be connected across all 45 incidents.
From blasphemy accusations in Bangladesh to algorithmic suppression of Palestinian content, from the criminalization of artistic intention in Turkey to the chilling effect of vague laws in Peru—artistic freedom is no longer a niche issue. It's a barometer for democracy itself. The report shows that when governments arrest musicians for anti-war songs, prosecute filmmakers for planning documentaries, or shut down galleries and festivals, society loses not only cultural expression but also the capacity to challenge power, imagine alternatives, and hold authority accountable.
A UK billboard campaign accusing Instagram of failing to protect users from scams was pulled just before launch, not by regulators but by media buyers wary of upsetting Meta, a major client. Created with scam victims and advocates, #IgnoredByInsta highlights the human cost of account hijacks and absent support. The incident exposes how commercial dependency in the advertising ecosystem can quietly suppress public criticism of powerful platforms.
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As war escalated in Gaza after October 2023, Meta’s platforms became crucial spaces for documentation and solidarity. Yet investigations and leaks suggest a vast system of digital censorship targeting Palestinian and pro-Palestinian content, allegedly in close coordination with Israeli authorities. While platforms deny political bias, artists and activists across the Arab world are now developing creative strategies to evade algorithmic suppression and preserve their narratives.
As democratic institutions face rising threats worldwide, artists and cultural organizations play a pivotal role in defending freedom of expression. Supporting creative expression is not a luxury—it is essential for resilient, open societies. Philanthropy can strengthen democracy by providing flexible funding, protection for at-risk artists, and fostering collaborations that empower cultural voices to challenge authoritarianism and inspire civic engagement.
Built on Vespa Cloud, the Civsy-project of Mimeta unifies scattered reports of artistic censorship into a centralized, trustworthy, and searchable platform. By integrating advanced indexing and AI-driven relevance, Civsy empowers researchers, journalists, and advocates to explore global censorship patterns, ensuring transparency and accessibility in the defense of artistic freedom.
By Khalid Albaih
Sudanese artist and political cartoonist Khalid Albaih, known as “Khartoon,” merges art and activism to challenge injustice and amplify silenced voices. From his 2025 exhibition Refresh at Kunstnernes Hus to digital platforms like KhartoonMag.com, Albaih turns creative expression into resistance. His installations Shahid and Bahar confront global indifference to conflict and displacement, redefining what it means to witness through art in a connected yet divided world.
A new UN report (A/80/278) warns that digitalization and AI can both amplify censorship and empower free expression. Civsy—created by Mimeta—directly answers this challenge. By training local researchers and deploying an AI-powered platform, Civsy systematically documents violations of artistic freedom, especially in underserved regions. This evidence fuels advocacy, policy reform, and accountability, turning data into a powerful tool for protecting cultural rights worldwide
The UN’s OHCHR is calling on individuals, experts, and organizations to share experiences promoting human rights and cultural diversity. Submissions will help inform a 2025 UN General Assembly report on implementing Resolution A/RES/78/201. Topics include inclusive institutions, freedom of expression, and cultural policy. Submit by 11 July 2025 and help ensure diverse voices are heard in shaping international policy. Full details on the OHCHR website.
Avant-Garde Lawyers (AGL) is launching the third edition of itsonline course, The Art of Defending Artists 3.0. This program is designed to empower human rights defenders, legal professionals, civil society advocates, and socially engaged artists with the tools and knowledge to protect artistic freedom worldwide.
Political violence and civil unrest are among the top global business risks, driven by rising protests, economic instability, and ideological extremism. Allianz Commercial reports that over 50% of businesses identify civil unrest as their primary political violence concern. With 800+ major protests since 2017, and $10B+ in related losses over a decade, companies must prioritize risk mitigation, continuity planning, and insurance coverage to navigate the unstable geopolitical climate.
Kristin Danielsen, from Arendal in Norway, has been named the new Director of the Nordic Culture Fund and will assume the role in September 2025. She brings extensive experience from the arts and culture sector at national, Nordic, and international levels, most recently serving as Chief Executive Director of Arts and Culture Norway.
By adopting AI in cultural heritage management, communities finally get tools to analyse and tell own stories with precision and control.
This article addresses the report to Human Rights Council, submitted in accordance with Council resolution 55/5, from the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Alexandra Xanthaki.
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UN report highlights the risks of cultural heritage digitalization, urging ethical policies to prevent exclusion, misappropriation, and power imbalances.
Recognizing champions of human rights and democracy—submit your nomination by 1 February 2025.
Submit your nomination for Index on Censorship's 2025 Freedom of Expression Awards by March 7, 2025.
For første gang hedrer Raftoprisen en kunstner. Budskapet er at kunst kan være et viktig verktøy i kampen mot autoritære regimer. Anerkjennelsen av Otero Alcántaras arbeid minner oss om at kunstneriske rettigheter er menneskerettigheter – og de må beskyttes
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2023 was marked by severe conflicts, such as those in Sudan and Gaza, alongside political tensions fueled by extremism and threats. It was a perilous year for anyone voicing opinions on war, politics, challenging tradition, or critiquing the powerful—artists were no exception.
