Free Speech is integral to the realization of our fundamental human right to sexual freedom. And yet, content related to sexuality, sexual expression, and sex work is often the first to be targeted by policies promoting and enforcing censorship. 

 

Censorship can violate several human rights, including:

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• Freedom of Expression: Censorship often restricts the freedom of individuals to express their thoughts, opinions, and ideas.

• Right to Information: People have the right to access information. Censorship can limit or control the flow of information, denying individuals the right to be informed.

• Privacy Rights: In some cases, censorship may infringe on the right to privacy, as it involves monitoring and controlling the communication and information flow.

• Freedom of the Press: Censorship can curtail the freedom of the press, preventing journalists from reporting news and expressing their perspectives without interference.

• Academic Freedom: In educational settings, censorship can restrict the freedom of academics and students to explore and discuss various ideas and perspectives.

• Cultural and Artistic Freedom: Censorship may impact the freedom of artists and creators to express themselves through their work, limiting cultural and artistic freedom.

• Right to Participate in Cultural Life: Individuals have the right to participate in cultural life, and censorship that suppresses cultural expression can infringe upon this right.
   

Identifying bills related to censorship is a complex undertaking because they exist in multiple topic areas and rarely explicitly mention censorship. Instead, they are often aimed at different rights afforded by free speech, such as those outlined above. 

 

Recent examples of policies promoting censorship include those that restrict minors from accessing certain content on social media, limit the curriculum in educational institutions, or regulate the power of online platforms. Many of these bills may be well-intentioned but inevitably threaten our First Amendment rights by enshrining overreaching governmental control and minimizing the freedom of individuals and private businesses.

 

This page contains live trackers of all active bills related to censorship at the national and state level. This tracker is auto-filled based on search terms we have chosen related to censorship and is updated as the status evolves.