- An open letter to Google: Stop the censorship of the Internet! Stop the political blacklisting of the World Socialist Web Site! (25 August 2017)
- The bicentenary of Marx’s birth, socialism and the resurgence of the international class struggle (3 January 2018)
- The Place of the October Revolution in World History and Contemporary Politics (13 November 2017)
- Palace coup or class struggle: The political crisis in Washington and the strategy of the working class (13 June 2017)
- A Quarter Century of War: The US Drive for Global Hegemony 1990–2016 (11 July 2016)
- Socialism and the Fight Against War (10 February 2016)
Internet Censorship
The US government, in collaboration with social media companies, is implementing massive restrictions on Internet access. Capitalist governments in Europe and throughout the world are enacting similar repressive policies.
In late April 2017, Google announced the implementation of new algorithms aimed at limiting or blocking access to the WSWS and other left wing, anti-war and progressive websites. Similar measures to deny Internet users access to revolutionary socialist and oppositional information and commentary have been implemented by Facebook and Twitter.
The World Socialist Web Site has taken the lead in exposing this conspiracy to censor the Internet and issued a call for the formation of an International Coalition of Socialist, Anti-War and Progressive Websites to fight back against this attack on freedom of speech and basic democratic rights.
Opposition grows to Nepal government’s move to curtail social media
By Rohantha De Silva, 17 January 2020
The Information Technology Bill’s vague language puts social media users at high risk for criticising business leaders, politicians and bureaucrats.
YouTube, Facebook and Twitter remove accounts and content opposing the illegal assassination of Iranian General Suleimani
By Kevin Reed, 16 January 2020
The social media companies YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are following the orders of the Trump administration in the aftermath of the criminal assassination of Iranian General Suleimani on January 3.
Desperate to stem protests, dozens of governments shut down internet access in 2019
By Andre Damon, 27 December 2019
Amid a global upsurge of political protests and strikes, governments all over the world are shutting down the internet in desperate bids to stem the tide of popular opposition.
Mueller probe accessed the Google account of Assange supporter Somerset Bean
By Kevin Reed, 5 December 2019
Somerset Bean, an artist and political activist, who has been a staunch supporter of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, revealed on Monday that Google was compelled by court order to provide the US authorities access to his online account.
Google fires four workers in apparent retaliation for their workplace activism
By Kevin Reed, 27 November 2019
Google dismissed the workers on Monday in retaliation for their participation in the organized opposition of the workforce to company policies and practices.
Wall Street Journal investigation confirms Google operates censorship blacklist
By Andre Damon, 18 November 2019
A report published Friday confirms many of the central allegations made by the World Socialist Web Site in 2017 regarding Google’s censorship of the internet.
Facebook and YouTube remove posts naming CIA impeachment whistleblower
By Kevin Reed, 11 November 2019
Facebook and YouTube have taken the extraordinary step of censoring social media content on their platforms that mention the name of the CIA whistleblower behind the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.
The Democrats’ campaign for internet censorship: Who is to determine what are “lies”?
By Andre Damon, 9 November 2019
While couched in demagogic language accusing Facebook of “profiting” off of “disinformation,” the Democrats’ campaign for internet censorship is aimed at silencing political opposition and dissent.
Twitter’s ban on political advertisement: A new move to censor the internet
By Andre Damon, 1 November 2019
The move by Twitter is a capitulation to demands by congressional Democrats and the media that technology companies more aggressively censor political statements, in the guise of “fact-checking.”
Grayzone editor Max Blumenthal arrested in Washington DC
By Kevin Reed, 30 October 2019
The independent journalist was shackled in a cage for five hours on a false charge stemming from protests at the Venezuelan embassy in April and May of this year.
GM fires Flint workers over social media posts during strike
By Jerry White, 29 October 2019
Flint Assembly workers, including a 19-year veteran of GM, have been targeted in a campaign of retaliation aimed at silencing opposition to the corporations and the UAW.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backs internet censorship
By Kevin Reed and Andre Damon, 25 October 2019
At a hearing Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez demanded that Facebook “fact-check” political statements and “take down lies,” endorsing calls by the intelligence agencies for technology companies to censor the internet.
New Zealand PM promotes internet censorship at UN
By Tom Peters, 30 September 2019
Jacinda Ardern met with world leaders and tech companies to promote a new “crisis response protocol” to rapidly remove online content deemed “extremist.”
Government Internet shutdowns on the rise internationally
By Kevin Reed, 11 September 2019
Instances of governments shutting down the Internet are on the rise in response to the growth of social conflict and protest, as well as the use of social media to organize political opposition.
DARPA requests proposals for “Semantic Forensics” system
US Defense Department prepares for mass internet censorship
By Kevin Reed, 6 September 2019
The Pentagon is seeking proposals from corporate technology partners for the development of an automated system that will censor “false media assets” and “disinformation.”
Media blacks out Roger Waters’ performance in defence of Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 5 September 2019
The media silence is an act of political censorship, carried out in order to assist the US and British governments persecute WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange.
Australian PM calls for new internet censorship measures at G7
By Oscar Grenfell, 27 August 2019
Morrison is campaigning for an international crackdown on social media, while his government asserts the right to ban websites and domains domestically.
Twitter purges 200,000 accounts “originating from China”
By Oscar Grenfell, 21 August 2019
The company’s actions are part of a campaign, in collaboration with the US government and intelligence agencies, to censor unfavourable or adverse political content on social media.
Facial recognition technology and identity politics
By Kevin Reed, 17 August 2019
The Democrats are seeking to channel mass opposition to the wholesale invasion of privacy into a campaign to regulate and “equalize” facial recognition technology.
FBI presses for social media surveillance “early alerting tool” in aftermath of mass shootings
By Kevin Reed, 12 August 2019
The FBI is stepping up its campaign for a real-time social media alert tool to allow continuous surveillance of all social media activity across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
FTC imposes $5 billion fine on Facebook for “deceiving users” about data privacy
By Kevin Reed, 27 July 2019
The settlement is part of a concerted effort by the US government to implement regulations and control over social media platforms.
Chelsea Manning’s lawyer refutes conspiracy allegation against Julian Assange
By Mike Head, 25 July 2019
“I don’t think Chelsea was played at all,” Nancy Hollander told Australian television.
Australian government demands police-state powers over protests and exclusions of citizens
By Mike Head, 24 July 2019
The bills would hand governments the most authoritarian powers since the two world wars.
Consortium News website taken down by a malware attack after streaming program defending Julian Assange
By Kevin Reed, 20 July 2019
The independent investigative journalism website Consortium News was brought down on Monday by a malware attack following the inaugural episode of CN Live!
Twitter removes account of Assange defence organisation
By Mike Head, 13 July 2019
Unity4J, which campaigns against the persecution of the WikiLeaks founder, was given no reason for the suspension.
UK’s GCHQ spy centre seeks new powers to circumvent encryption
By Thomas Scripps, 6 July 2019
The new surveillance measures, known as a “ghost protocol,” would allow a government agent to “sit in” on ostensibly secure private conversations without other participants knowing.
Facebook planning to ban ads which discourage voting in US elections
By Kevin Reed, 5 July 2019
The new policy is a further expansion of Facebook’s censorship of left-wing and oppositional political views on its platforms.
Julian Assange’s birthday celebrated at vigils in Australia and New Zealand
By our reporters, 5 July 2019
Linda Tenenbaum, a longstanding leader of the SEP, indicted the Australian government and the political and media establishment for abandoning Assange, an Australia citizen.
Trump national security team revives demand for “backdoor” access to encryption
By Kevin Reed, 3 July 2019
A Politico report has revealed that key National Security Council members have debated whether to ask Congress to pass laws that would make end-to-end encryption technologies illegal.
Human rights imperialism, social media censorship and the fraud of Facebook’s “Oversight Board”
By Kevin Reed, 2 July 2019
Behind the recent report on the creation of an Oversight Board to oversee “content decisions” at Facebook is a plan for social media censorship in defense of the global capitalist system.
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) calls rally to demand freedom for Julian Assange
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 25 June 2019
Support the SEG’s rally on Sunday July 14 as part of the international campaign to demand freedom for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
Why is the US government using social media to monitor the public?
By Kevin Reed, 24 June 2019
The lawsuit filed by New Sanctuary Coalition and other groups, says that ICE specifically targeted individuals for deportation, to suppress their political speech.
Facebook blocks ad for PES meeting in Paris to defend Assange
By Alex Lantier, 22 June 2019
The Parti de l’égalité socialiste calls on its supporters to share its material and support the freeing of journalist Julian Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
Sri Lankan government moves to criminalise “fake news”
By Naveen Dewage, 19 June 2019
Colombo’s new laws to censor and control the internet and social media are moves towards the establishment of dictatorial forms of rule.
Creating the framework for government-directed online censorship
House Judiciary Committee begins antitrust inquiry into big tech
By Kevin Reed, 14 June 2019
A House subcommittee hearing on Tuesday began a major bipartisan drive for government-directed censorship of website and social media content.
“Yellow Vest” Facebook group with 350,000 members frozen on European election day
By Will Morrow, 28 May 2019
The group is used to organize “yellow vest” demonstrations and to share news articles, political statements and videos of police violence.
Speech by Ulrich Rippert to London meeting
“Defending Julian Assange requires the mobilisation of the working class in a struggle against capitalism”
20 May 2019
We are publishing the speech of Ulrich Rippert, chairman of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) in Germany, at the May 12 public meeting in London in defence of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
New Zealand PM leads global Internet censorship campaign
By Tom Peters, 18 May 2019
New Zealand’s Labour Party-led government is heading international efforts to exploit the Christchurch terrorist attacks to ramp up restrictions on social media.
France hosts “Christchurch call” summit to intensify internet censorship
By Will Morrow, 16 May 2019
Under the banner of fighting terrorism, the social media giants and capitalist states are seeking to censor social media to banish left-wing and anti-war views.
Censorship in the guise of opposition to monopoly control
Co-founder Chris Hughes calls for government break-up of Facebook
By Kevin Reed, 16 May 2019
The New York Times op-ed by Hughes is part of a campaign for government regulation of social media and technology corporations in order to step up censorship of left-wing political views.
German president calls for clampdown on freedom of speech, internet censorship at Berlin conference
By Johannes Stern, 14 May 2019
Ahead of the European elections on May 26, the ruling class aims to intensify internet censorship and silence critical viewpoints.
Free Assange NZ denounces hypocrisy at World Press Freedom Day event
By Tom Peters, 11 May 2019
Alex Hills from Free Assange New Zealand condemned the British government’s “brazen hypocrisy” and called on the media to “end the smears and lies about an anti-war hero.”
Facebook escalates social media censorship with shutdown of far-right accounts
By Kevin Reed, 4 May 2019
While the far-right has the backing of powerful factions of the state and the ruling class, the move by Facebook creates a precedent for the overt censorship of left-wing organizations.
“Assange can only be defended by an international movement of the working class”
Christoph Vandreier speaks at Berlin rally to defend Julian Assange
By Christoph Vandreier, 27 April 2019
Christoph Vandreier, Deputy National Secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in Germany and a candidate in the European elections, addressed a rally in front of the Ecuadorian embassy in Berlin in defense of the Wikileaks publisher.
UN official visits Julian Assange, investigating Ecuador’s illegal surveillance
By Mike Head, 26 April 2019
Confronted by worldwide protests and petitions, the British government felt compelled to grant the UN access to the imprisoned WikiLeaks founder.
Formerly-jailed Australian journalist fronts corporate media attack on Julian Assange
By Mike Head, 20 April 2019
Peter Greste, once incarcerated by the US-backed Egyptian junta, is using his reputation as a victim of attacks on press freedom to support the Washington-led efforts to suppress WikiLeaks.
SGP Chairman Ulrich Rippert addresses free Assange rally in Berlin
13 April 2019
Ulrich Rippert, the chairman of the Socialist Equality Party, addressed a rally in front of the British embassy in Berlin, Germany, demanding the freedom of WikiLeaks Publisher Julian Assange.
The Assange arrest is a warning from history
Comment by John Pilger, 13 April 2019
John Pilger, well-known filmmaker and investigative journalist, issued the following statement on the arrest of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London on April 11.
Worldwide outrage over arrest of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange
By Niles Niemuth, 12 April 2019
After nearly seven years of confinement to the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Assange now faces the possibility of a year in a UK prison and extradition to the United States.
Amid corruption scandals and deals with IMF and Washington, Ecuador’s government betrays Assange
By Bill Van Auken, 12 April 2019
The handing over of Assange to his British and US persecutors is part of a sharp drive to the right by the corruption-stained government of Lenín Moreno.
Free Julian Assange!
By Statement of the World Socialist Web Site Editorial Board, 12 April 2019
The World Socialist Web Site emphatically condemns the forcible seizure and arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Defend Julian Assange!
Statement of the Socialist Equality Party (Australia), 6 April 2019
The Socialist Equality Party (Australia) condemns the stepped-up preparations to expel Julian Assange from London’s Ecuadorian embassy and to force him into the custody of the British police. WikiLeaks reported today that it has information, from a source in the Ecuadorian state, that Assange’s eviction from the building, where he sought asylum in 2012, will occur “within hours or days.”
Australian government sets global precedent with online censorship bill
By Mike Head, 4 April 2019
While nominally directed against the far-right, the bill will be used to step up the offensive against oppositional, left-wing and socialist postings.
European Union intensifies internet censorship
By Justus Leicht and Johannes Stern, 27 March 2019
Two months before the European elections, the European Parliament has pushed through a directive to enforce the use of so-called upload filters in social media, thus further censoring the internet.
Australian government exploits fascist atrocity in New Zealand to push online censorship
By Oscar Grenfell, 27 March 2019
The entire political establishment is seeking to cover up its responsibility for the fascist attack and exploit it to crack down on the democratic rights of ordinary people.
Unsealed documents shed light on state conspiracy against Chelsea Manning
By Kevin Reed, 22 March 2019
The unsealed documents shine a light on the desperate measures to which the US government has resorted in pursuing a legal pretext to prosecute Julian Assange.
Putin signs Russian internet censorship bills into law
By Clara Weiss, 22 March 2019
The two laws are part of an international campaign by the ruling class to crack down on the internet.
Mark Zuckerberg’s “Privacy Manifesto”: A brief for intensifying Internet and social media censorship
By Kevin Reed, 12 March 2019
The new vision for Facebook published by Mark Zuckerberg on March 6 is part of the response by the ruling elite to the role that social media is playing in the growth of class struggle internationally.
Uganda’s social media tax leads to sharp drop in internet users
By Eddie Haywood, 9 March 2019
The government of President Yoweri Museveni, in power for three decades, regards social media with intense hostility and suspicion.
Greetings from the Sri Lankan Abbotsleigh Estate Workers Action Committee to the Assange defence rallies in Australia
2 March 2019
Tea plantation workers struggling for decent working conditions have expressed their solidarity with the fight to free WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange.
UK parliament committee demands sweeping social media censorship
By Robert Stevens, 22 February 2019
Social media companies would be required by law to remove what is deemed as “disinformation,” as well as “harmful content,” or face potential fines.
Alleging “Russian influence,” Facebook bans left-wing pages
By Andy Thompson, 20 February 2019
Facebook suspended four pages run by Maffick Media, including In the Now, Soapbox, Back Then and Waste-Ed, which posted content critical of US foreign and social policy.
Award-winning journalist Chris Hedges endorses Free Assange demonstrations in Australia
16 February 2019
“It is imperative that we pressure the Australian government to make sure its citizen, Julian Assange, is protected from the lawlessness of the American empire.”
Dearborn, Michigan mayor suppresses historical article on Henry Ford’s anti-Semitism
By Tom Mackaman, 7 February 2019
The censored article details how Ford’s Dearborn Independent newspaper served as a platform for vile slanders against Jews—and an inspiration for Hitler and the Nazis.
Facebook’s censor Nick Clegg outlines plans for European elections
By Robert Stevens, 2 February 2019
Facebook will play a major role in determining what voices Europe’s population are allowed to hear.
The Matamoros auto strike and internet censorship
By Andre Damon, 24 January 2019
The ongoing strike by over 70,000 workers in Matamoros, Mexico has been met with a media blackout by the major print and broadcast outlets.
23 January 2019
Indian government foreshadows harsher internet surveillance and censorship
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 18 January 2019
The planned laws are part of vast array of anti-democratic measures being introduced by governments internationally to target and spy on internet users.
Der Spiegel’s counterfeit journalism and the campaign against “fake news”
By Peter Schwarz, 31 December 2018
The unmasking of a counterfeiter in the editorial offices of the German newsweekly Der Spiegel has exposed the manipulation of public opinion by the so-called authoritative media.
Facebook: The global censor
By Andre Damon, 29 December 2018
This year has seen an intensification of internet censorship by Google, Facebook and Twitter, transforming these companies into censors that police what their users say, do and think.
US media demands stepped-up domestic spying over Russian “meddling”
New York Times: Back to the good days before Edward Snowden!
By Andre Damon, 20 December 2018
In a revealing comment, the New York Times argues that the present hysteria over Russian “subversion” can roll back the impact of Edward Snowden’s revelation of illegal mass government surveillance.
A closer look at American “democracy”
By Barry Grey, 20 December 2018
The population is given the opportunity every two or four years to go to the polls and vote for one or the other corporate-controlled party. This is what is called “democracy.”
SEP (Australia) meeting announces rallies in defence of Julian Assange
By our reporters, 18 December 2018
The protests in Sydney and Melbourne will demand that the government take immediate action to secure Assange’s return to Australia, with a guarantee against extradition to the US.
Democrats downplay Google censorship at congressional hearing
By Andre Damon, 13 December 2018
The principal targets of censorship by the Internet companies, working with the US intelligence agencies, are left-wing, anti-war and socialist political viewpoints.
Jacobin urges readers to “log off” social media
By Will Morrow, 8 December 2018
An article in Jacobin argues that Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms have become damaging to the health of the population, are “destructive for the left,” and should be done away with.
The Guardian attack on Assange exposed as politically-motivated fabrication
By James Cogan, 6 December 2018
The lack of any case against WikiLeaks explains the scurrilous allegations by the Guardian newspaper last week.
French protests spark media demands for Facebook censorship
By Andre Damon, 5 December 2018
Sections of the press in France and the United States have seized upon the “yellow vest” demonstrations to directly demand the suppression of popular opposition on social media.
New York Times: Our crime was telling the truth
By Andre Damon, 29 November 2018
The Times and the Washington Post are arguing that by publishing true information about political corruption, the US press committed what amounts to treason.
Australian parliamentary inquiry discusses intensifying internet censorship
By Oscar Grenfell, 27 November 2018
The hearing pointed to the political establishment seeking to suppress mounting opposition to war, austerity and authoritarianism.
Sri Lanka: UNP demands Facebook protect identity of party supporters
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 21 November 2018
UNP allegations that state authorities could be collaborating with Facebook to target its supporters came amid escalating infighting within the Sri Lankan political elite.
Australian establishment collaborates in US vendetta against Julian Assange
By James Cogan, 20 November 2018
The sealed US charges underscore the danger facing Assange and the perfidy of those who support his persecution.
Facebook hires former British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
By Joe Mount, 16 November 2018
Clegg joins Facebook at a time when it is censoring socialist, left-wing and oppositional web sites, including the closure of hundreds of such sites over the last several weeks.
Washington’s censorship regime goes global
Facebook deletes WSWS post on Sri Lanka
By Andre Damon, 14 November 2018
Facebook is acting as an agent of the US intelligence agencies, which see the growing audience for international socialism as an obstacle to their efforts to exploit ethnic divisions in developing countries.
Facebook and Twitter intensify censorship in 2018 elections
By Kevin Reed, 8 November 2018
Facebook shut down 115 accounts and Twitter deleted 10,000 accounts on the eve of the 2018 elections, engaging in blatant censorship.
Julian Assange warns that Ecuador is moving to end his political asylum
By Mike Head, 30 October 2018
The WikiLeaks founder told an Ecuadorian court hearing that President Moreno had already decided to terminate his asylum but had not yet officially given the order.
Spy and police chiefs demand passage of Australian encryption access law
By Mike Head, 29 October 2018
The heads of the “security” apparatus spoke on behalf of the US-led “Five Eyes” intelligence network, which conducts mass monitoring of the world’s population.
European Union steps up Internet censorship in the name of opposing “disinformation”
By Johannes Stern, 26 October 2018
The EU summit threatened with sanctions and penalties any party that diverges from the prescribed political line in the 2019 European election campaign.
In the face of mounting threats, the working class must defend Julian Assange
By Bill Van Auken, 25 October 2018
The Ecuadorian government’s public renunciation of any responsibility to defend Assange is an ominous warning that it is preparing to turn him over to British authorities.
War, censorship, and the invention of “fake news”
By Andre Damon, 22 October 2018
Under conditions of mounting social opposition and escalating plans for military conflict, the US political establishment is moving to ever more brazenly implement internet censorship.
As Trump administration prepares to withdraw from nuclear missile treaty
US charges new Russian conspiracy to interfere in midterm elections
By Will Morrow, 20 October 2018
The charges have been released without the slightest evidence, but have immediately been accepted as gospel and amplified by the American media.
The “new cold war,” censorship, and the future of the internet
By Andre Damon, 17 October 2018
The internet is becoming a battleground for economic and geopolitical conflict, while states, acting on behalf of capitalist elites, are seeking to censor online information.
Facebook’s purge of left-wing media: A frontal assault on freedom of speech
By Andre Damon, 15 October 2018
The social media monopoly’s removal of left-wing news pages with millions of followers is the latest step in a conspiracy by the state and the technology giants to censor the internet.
Pages purged by Facebook were on blacklist promoted by Washington Post
By Andre Damon, 13 October 2018
PropOrNot, an organization that published a blacklist of oppositional media organizations in 2016, hailed Facebook’s actions as the precursor to shutting down the targeted organizations' web sites.
Facebook carries out massive purge of oppositional pages
By Andre Damon, 12 October 2018
In a sweeping assault on democratic rights, Facebook has carried out a purge of oppositional media pages with millions of followers.
Leaked Google document: Tech firms have shifted away from “free speech and towards censorship”
By Kevin Reed, 11 October 2018
On Tuesday, the far-right news outlet Breitbart News published a leaked internal document by technology giant Google that openly discusses political censorship.
50 million user accounts hacked in Facebook data breach
By Kevin Reed, 5 October 2018
Hackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook’s “View As” feature to gain access to user account details.
The US military’s vision for state censorship
By Andre Damon, 5 October 2018
The Atlantic Council, a key partner in social media companies’ drive to censor the internet, has published a summary of a US special forces conference outlining a plan for systematically gutting the freedom of expression.
European Union announces draconian internet censorship measures
By Thomas Scripps, 20 September 2018
The new EU law will formalise even closer relationships between state security services and tech companies.
UK: Corbyn’s media policies leave corporate domination unchanged, silent on censorship
By Joe Mount and Julie Hyland, 20 September 2018
There was not a single proposal by the Labour Party leader challenging the corporate oligarchy’s domination of the media.
Facebook expands censorship to photos and videos
By Mike Ingram, 19 September 2018
Facebook’s “fact-checkers” will now censor not just web articles, but image macros and political videos.