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Faced with ever-widening censorship at home, Hong Kong filmmakers are increasingly taking their creativity to an international audience, showing an uncut version of their city beyond the reach of a security law criminalizing criticism of the authorities.

"Toeing red lines has never been easy, and less so as they become increasingly vague, bordering on nonexistence," according to the organizers of Hong Kong Film Festival U.K., which screened films by a number of directors who have run afoul of the authorities amid a citywide crackdown on dissent in the wake of the 2019 protest movement.

The festival program included a series of five short films "reimagining the city in a dark and dangerous light ... cast in the shadows of the anti-extradition protests and of the pandemic," as well as work by director Kiwi Chow, one of the few directors who still calls Hong Kong home, despite having his film "Revolution of Our Times" banned from public screenings.

Film censorship had already been seen in the city even before the 2019 protest movement erupted in response to its vanishing freedoms, with movie theaters in Hong Kong suddenly dropping the dystopian short-film compilation "10 Years" as early as 2016.

Since the national security law took effect on July 1, 2020, many more creative offerings have fallen victim to political censorship, including a rap track by Hong Kong artist JB cursing the city's police force for its treatment of protesters in 2019, and Chow's film about the protest movement, which was screened instead at Cannes in 2021.

Obstacles and barriers

Chow told festival-goers in London on March 31 that he has faced barriers to funding, as well as to hiring actors and booking locations in Hong Kong since he made Revolution of Our Times, with actors' agencies refusing to do business with him and major film studios closing their doors to his work.

Location bookings were also affected, with venue owners wanting assurances that the finished film "won't violate the national security law," he said, adding that actors are increasingly being asked to sign promises that they won't take work that violates the law, which criminalizes peaceful political opposition and public dissent.

"One actor tried to protest against this, because they wanted to take part in my film, but his previous co-producer knew he was considering my project and threatened him, saying he would cut all of his scenes from a movie they had shot together," Chow told the forum, titled "Hong Kong's Deteriorating Artistic Freedom."

"So he wound up not being in my movie," he said.

Asked if there is any creative freedom left in Hong Kong, Chow replies: "It's already lost, of course," he said. "Will it get worse? It's hard for me to predict, but the loss has definitely already happened."

"It used to be so free, maybe more so than a lot of Western countries, Chow said, but now it has gone back 20 years.

He appears undeterred, however, and his international success continues despite the restrictions back home.

His segment, "Self-Immolation," from "10 Years" (2015) won the Best Film award at the Hong Kong Film Awards, while "Revolution of Our Times" was invited to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Best Documentary award at the 58th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan.

Chilling effect on creativity

Meanwhile, film music arranger Adrian Chow said musicians and singers have also been targeted for political censorship, with event organizers required to answer a slew of questions and guarantee that no anti-government content would be performed before being granted a temporary entertainment license by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

Officials wanted to know how organizers would respond if audience members started chanting banned slogans or engaging in "other behavior detrimental to national security," and whether they would cooperate with police if they did, he told the forum.

Such requirements have a chilling effect on creative freedom, Adrian Chow said.

"The government quite openly seeks to influence creative performances and activities, and will make trouble for event organizers, so they will remember not to book politically sensitive performers in future," he said.

"They want to sow fear, so people believe that the government really will take action, and even involve the national security police," Adrian Chow said. "In this way, creative freedom is affected by self-censorship."

Fellow director Lam Sun, who continues to make films about Hong Kong from the U.K., agreed, saying the fear has also recently spread to sports associations, who are being targeted after organizers played out the protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong in error at recent international fixtures, instead of China's national anthem, the March of the Volunteers.

"Hong Kong teachers also have to watch out for potential complaints about their teaching materials," said Lam, whose first solo feature film "The Narrow Road", received the Best Original Film Music at Golden Horse Awards 2022, and the Best Director and Best Actor awards at the 29th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards, along with 10 nominations in the 41st Hong Kong Film Awards.

Everyone in Hong Kong has to consider how to face up to this rule of fear, faced with "vaguely defined red lines," he said.

Kiwi Chow called on Hong Kongs creative workers to be tenacious in holding onto their artistic vitality and inner freedom.

"I personally don't care whether the environment I'm in is free or not," he said. "There is still freedom in the struggles that take place in the inner world of a creative person, so I don't focus on the external loss of freedom, but on myself."

"I think Hong Kong filmmakers have very strong vitality, and if they think their movie won't get past the censors, they will take it overseas," he said. "Creativity is about taking risks."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

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Hong Kong filmmakers take their movies overseas in bid to evade censorship at home - Radio Free Asia

Carlton Trail Eagle Creek MP Kelly Block (left) and her constituency manager Susan Redekop (centre) in conversation with a constituent at a coffee shop in Hague on Thursday, April 6

The rising cost of living is taking a big bite out of peoples incomes and savings, according to Conservative Member of Parliament Kelly Block.

Inflation is one of the main issues that people are very concerned about, said Block in an interview on Thursday, April 6 in Hague, one of her stops during a two-week tour of communities in her riding of Carlton Trail Eagle Creek. Theyre worried about not just how theyre going to pay their own bills, but also the federal deficit and debt that continues to accumulate. The other topics raised quite often by voters are the carbon tax; and Bill C-11, the online censorship bill currently before the House of Commons.

Block said Bill C-11 was introduced by the federal Liberal government under the guise of promoting Canadian content, but it actually poses a threat to the free exchange of ideas on the internet. The broadcast regulation bill would grant government bureaucrats the power to filter and regulate what Canadians see in their streaming feeds and on social media.

Censorship is something that people are very concerned about, said Block. They are worried about not having the freedom to choose what they see online or post online. I had the opportunity to speak to that bill in the House of Commons last week for the third time. The Senate has proposed amendments to the legislation, and its been back and forth between the House and the Senate several times so far.

She said the recent increase to the federal carbon tax is fuelling inflation while doing nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The carbon tax went up by $15 a tonne, so its now $65 a tonne, said Block. The data shows that the federal government hasnt yet hit the target theyve set for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, so clearly its a strategy thats not working. Its not doing anything to affect climate change.

Block said during her constituency tour, shes talked with employers in several communities who say one of their challenges is finding enough workers to fill vacant job positions. She added that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has advocated regulatory changes to make it easier for newcomers who come with skills to be able to go through the immigration process quicker.

We know in our office that there are always issues with the temporary foreign worker program, and getting permanent residency, said Block. Its a complex issue that includes ensuring communication skills are part of the equation.

Block said many voters are fed up with Prime Minister Trudeau and want to see a change in government.

Im hearing from a lot of people that they are really anxious for another election, said Block. I remind them that its only been 18 months since the last one. Under the current minority situation, an election could theoretically happen anytime; but with the NDP supporting the Liberals through the Supply and Confidence Agreement, the Liberals could stay in power until 2025.

Block said the constituency tour is a way of connecting with voters on their home turf. In addition to discussions about political issues and answering constituents questions, the informal coffee-shop meetings offer people a chance to get assistance on individual problems. She noted that people may feel intimidated walking into an MPs office, and one of the goals of the tour is to help constituents feel comfortable about approaching elected representatives.

We havent been able to have a tour like this for quite a while, said Block. So its really nice to be able to get out in the communities again and make myself available to people for any questions they may have. More often than not there is someone with an issue that would like to have a little bit of my time and were happy to sit down and talk with them about their issues.

I have great staff in all my offices who do a lot of the case work, said Block. Im made aware of the casework and often I will meet with the individuals and then my staff follows up with a particular issue. They may need to do research or connect with other levels of government because it may be an issue that falls under municipal or provincial government jurisdiction. We try to make those connections too.

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Inflation, carbon tax, censorship bill top concerns for voters, says Block - Clark's Crossing Gazette

In a new scandal for Elon Musks class-leading electric car company, a new revelation has brought yet another legal headache for the high profile tycoon and raises important questions about what can be done to censor internal staff discussions. Although Tesla has been accused of monitoring staff communications, it may well be that the company was looking in the wrong places (or for the wrong materials).

Tesla Inc. has consistently emphasized the importance of privacy for its electric car owners, stating that in-car cameras, designed to assist driving, were engineered with privacy protection in mind.

However, between 2019 and 2022, multiple Tesla employees allegedly shared invasive videos and images captured by customers' car cameras through an internal messaging system, according to interviews with nine former employees conducted by Reuters. Modern Teslas can have up to 8 cameras fitted as standard.

Some recordings showed Tesla customers in compromising situations, such as a man approaching a vehicle completely naked. Other shared footage included car crashes and road-rage incidents. In one instance, a 2021 crash video depicted a Tesla speeding in a residential area and hitting a child on a bike. The video spread quickly within a Tesla office in San Mateo, California, via private one-on-one chats, as reported by a former employee.

Other shared images were more innocuous, featuring pictures of dogs or humorous road signs that employees turned into memes by adding clever captions or commentary before sharing them in private group chats. While some postings were shared exclusively between two employees, others were visible to multiple employees, according to several former staff members.

Tesla's "Customer Privacy Notice" asserts that its "camera recordings remain anonymous and are not linked to you or your vehicle." However, seven former employees informed Reuters that the computer program they used at work could reveal the location of recordings, potentially exposing a Tesla owner's residence.

Amazon has already made headlines over its proposal for an internal messaging system with censorship functions the headlines were mainly because rumors were that the words it would clamp down would include unions or payrise but the latest Tesla incident shows that there may be a very real argument to keep tabs on employee chatter.

In response to the allegations, a class-action lawsuit has already been filed, only one day after the revelations came to light. The lawsuit was submitted in the US District Court in Northern California by Fitzgerald Joseph LLP on behalf of Henry Yeh, a Tesla owner in San Francisco.

The suit alleges that the company violated California's state Constitution, California privacy laws, and Tesla's own privacy policies. It also asserts that Tesla misled customers about data privacy. The lawsuit demands that Tesla be prohibited from continuing this behavior and seeks recovery of both actual and punitive damages. Though the damages sought are not specified, they exceed $5 million.

The lawsuit highlights significant potential costs to Tesla customers related to privacy. To disable the car's cameras, an owner would need to pay a professional, thereby reducing the car's paid-for functionality. A former Tesla employee, as quoted by Insider, revealed that he covered his own car's cameras with tape for a period after realizing the extent of Tesla's access to information.

A study by lawsuit.org found that employers seem to be more sensitive to censorship than their staff - 62% of employees believe it is appropriate for employers to request that they dont discuss active company conflicts or scandals, compared to 56% of employers who share this view. Additionally, 50% of employees feel it is suitable for companies to monitor their staff through company messaging platforms, while only 40% of employers concur with this perspective.

Although Tesla is in the headlines (again), this isnt an exclusively Tesla problem - It has become increasingly difficult to find a car without built-in cameras. As of 2018, US federal law mandates that new cars sold in the country must be equipped with backup cameras.

Typically, these cameras do not record footage or transmit it elsewhere. However, other cameras do, including the increasingly popular dashcams and internal cameras that ride-hail drivers often use for their own safety. Cameras have become highly sought-after features that enhance safety, security, and enable semi-autonomous and self-driving capabilities.

Even Amazon's Ring cameras have introduced a dedicated car model, allowing users to have a Ring camera on their doorstep, in their child's bedroom, and now on their dashboard.

Excerpt from:
Should we censor internal messaging? | HRD America - HRD America

Months after controversies erupted over books about human bodies and drag queens at the Lincolnwood Public Library, leading to wider questions about censorship, four trustee candidates who say they support current policies and oppose censorship appeared to have won their races in the April 4 election based on unofficial Cook County results.

Incumbent trustees Sheri Doniger, Georgia Talaganis and Mary Silber, along with Deborah Silver, who was running for a first term, ran under the Freedom to Read banner and were the top four vote-getters.

Silver led the pack with 14.92 % of the vote, Doniger had 14.87% orfour fewer votes than Silver, Talaganis had 14.75 % and Silber tallied 14.1%.

Freedom to Read Lincolnwood team is grateful the voters of Lincolnwood supported our mission of transparency, inclusivity, true fiscal responsibility, and high integrity, the winning trustees wrote in a statement. We ran a highly ethical, informative campaign and are proud of the positive response of the voters. We believe libraries are the cornerstone of democracy, literacy and productivity. We look to the future to ensure all residents continue to see themselves at the Lincolnwood Public Library. "

The other candidates were Kari Fleck Gutstein, Andrea Serban, Jacqueline Kosir and Mohamed Hafezi. Hafezi wrote, Although we are saddened by the outcome of the election, we acknowledge and honor the democratic process and the verdict of the voters.

The election for the traditionally low-profile library board drew additional attention following last falls dispute regarding a 40-page book about drag queens, which sparked a firestorm about the availability of books in the childrens section of the library.

Doniger added in an e-mail that she believes the Freedom to Read group reflected the prevailing perspective of the village population.

We won the election because our diverse Lincolnwood residents wanted to keep their freedom to read, choose, and access books, Doniger wrote. They also believed parents already have rights for their child and no one should impose their personal beliefs on other peoples children. Finally, the residents believed we will be better stewards of their tax dollars by maintaining and enhancing the quality programs for all ages and services they have come to enjoy.

Doniger predicted current policies would continue over the next four years.

The Lincolnwood Public Library will not ban, re-shelve, or hide books. Re-shelving or hiding books is considered censorship, she wrote. Our policies and procedures regarding book censorship of any kind will hold steadfast and true to the librarys purpose. The public will always be welcome to comment at our public meetings, they will always be welcome to ask questions and make requests of our staff of highly-credentialed professional librarians. Its important for everyone to understand that, just like in life outside the library, sometimes the answer to a request is yes and sometimes the answer is no. The library will always make decisions with the charter of the institution at the forefront. And we will always protect the U.S. Constitution.

Silver indicated in a separate e-mail current policies would continue.

Our master of library science-educated librarians at the Lincolnwood Library will continue to select books based on the guidelines of the American Library Association, Illinois Library Association as well as their knowledge of Lincolnwood residents, she wrote.

Regarding the future on other topics, Doniger said plans are in place for additional programming and discussions on book procurement, collection development and financial matters.

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Lincolnwood library candidates who opposed book restrictions win ... - Chicago Tribune

A high school along Floridas Atlantic Coast has removed a graphic novel based on the diary of Anne Frank after a leader of a conservative advocacy group challenged it, claiming it minimized the Holocaust.

Anne Franks Diary: The Graphic Adaptation was removed from a library at Vero Beach High School after a leader of Moms for Liberty in Indian River County raised an objection. The schools principal agreed with the objection, and the book was removed last month.

The book at one point shows the protagonist walking in a park, enchanted by female nude statues, and later proposing to a friend that they show each other their breasts.

Under the school districts policy, the principal makes the decision on a challenged book. If someone disagrees with a decision to keep the disputed book on the shelves, it can be appealed to a districtwide committee. The Anne Frank graphic novel had been checked out twice before it was removed, Cristen Maddux, a spokeswoman for the School District of Indian River County, said Monday.

Vero Beach is located 105 miles (169 kilometers) southeast of Orlando.

Other books about Anne Frank and copies of the published diary she wrote chronicling her time hiding from the Nazis with her family and other Jews in German-occupied Amsterdam remain in the school systems libraries. The Jewish teenagers diary was published in 1947, several years after she died in a concentration camp, and it has become a classic read by tens of millions of people around the world.

By law, Florida schools are required to teach about the Holocaust, and nothing has changed in that respect, Maddux said.

The feedback that the Holocaust is being removed from the curriculum and students arent knowledgeable about what happened, that is not the case at all, Maddux said. Its just a challenged book and the principal removed it.

Besides the Anne Frank graphic novel, Moms for Liberty in Indian River County objected to three books in the Assassination Classroom series, and they also were removed.

Moms for Liberty leader Jennifer Pippin said the Anne Frank graphic novel violated state standards to teach the Holocaust accurately.

Even her version featured the editing out of the entries about sex, Pippin said, referring to the original diary. Even the publisher of the book calls it a biography, meaning, it writes its own interpretive spin. Its not the actual work. It quotes the work, but its not the diary in full. It chooses to offer a different view on the subject.

Published in 2018, the graphic novel was adapted from Anne Franks diary by Ari Folman, and David Polonsky provided the illustrations. Folmans parents are Holocaust survivors.

When contacted by email, the books publisher, Pantheon Graphic Library, forwarded the inquiry to Yves Kugelmann, a board member of a foundation set up by Anne Franks father, Otto, devoted to distributing Anne Franks diary and other matters. Kugelmann didnt immediately respond to questions.

The American Library Association reported last month that there were more than 1,200 demands to censor library books last year in the U.S., the highest number since the association began tracking more than 20 years ago.

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A group called Moms for Liberty just got a Florida school to censor a graphic novel about Anne Frank and the Holocaust - Fortune