Author: Becca Hoekstra

Qatari Cartoonists Vital Part of Country’s Journalism

Halfway across the world, in a tiny country on the Arabian Peninsula, cartoonists are in high demand. In Qatar, which is slightly smaller in size than the state of Connecticut, editorial cartoonists are a vital part of journalism in the…

When Censorship Gets Ridiculous

Things can get pretty serious over here at CBLDF. Whether it’s fighting to keep literature accessible in schools and libraries, or cartoonists literally fearing for their lives, censorship can have powerful negative implications. Which is why, sometimes, it’s nice to…

Popular Cartoon Runs Afoul of Chinese Censors

Accusations of animated violence have led to censorship of one of China’s most popular children’s cartoons off air. The cartoon, Pleasant Goat and the Big Bad Wolf — sometimes billed as China’s version of Mickey Mouse, complete with some licencing…

Cartoonist Fights Inclusion on U.S. No-Fly List

For several years, Toronto cartoonist Shahid Mahmood has been on the United States’ no-fly list for reasons unknown. Mahmood discovered his no-fly status when he attempted to board an Air Canada flight in 2004. Several years and an inquiry from…

Indianapolis Library Refuses to Censor Erotic Novel

An Indiana library is facing some heat after a 9-year-old obtained an erotic novel using the self-check out system. After the child left the library with a copy of the erotic novel Night Games by Crystal Jordan, the child’s grandmother,…

Thailand’s Overzealous Censors

Thailand doesn’t skimp when it comes to censorship. According to a recent article by Brian Ashcraft at Kotaku, the country’s scrupulous censorship laws commonly disrupt the dubbed anime that is broadcast on Thai television. Whatever is deemed inappropriate — be…

Facebook and ACLU Challenge the Ruling That “Likes” Are Not Free Speech

What if “liking” a page on Facebook could cost you your job?

A judge in Virginia ruled last spring that Facebook “likes” are not protected under the First Amendment. According to U.S. District Judge Raymond Jackson, “merely ‘liking’ a Facebook page is insufficient speech to merit constitutional protection.”

ERROR 451: This Page Has Been Burned

It’s just another average day of internet browsing. You’re doing your thing, checking the news, maybe taking a detour to your favorite webcomic. Then, WHAM (or rather, the internet version of said sound effect). ERROR 451. What happened? Did the…