Katie Dancey-Downs

One of the targets of this bill is literature which includes “stripping, or lewd or lascivious dancing”.

The number of times I’ve gone to read my child a bedtime story and been confronted with a pole-dancing Guinea pig.

This is just straight from the authoritarian playbook

The USA now want to ban books nationwide. They’re calling it the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act.

To be clear, this is 1 of 2 sections, describing what they mean by sexuality-oriented material: ““(ii) involves gender dysphoria or transgenderism.”

www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

An un-American story on book bans - Index on Censorship Librarians and public institutions in the US are facing a growing threat to independent thinking and tolerant values

Book bans in the USA, very often targeted at content around sex, LGBTQ+ lives, race and racism, are nothing new. But a nationwide ban is a whole new level.

We cover this at @indexoncensorship.org all the time, because it’s getting worse all the time.

www.indexoncensorship.org/2025/09/an-u...

I’m making my first pilgrimage to the London Book Fair next month - say hi to me please if you’re going too?

How are culture wars playing out in #Uzbekistan + what role do religious shock jocks like Abror Mukhtor Aliy (in photo) play in social media debate? I spoke to @katiedd.bsky.social for @indexoncensorship.org - dive in! Read more on this in my new book Silk Mirage
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...

Well they must do. Personally, I find it a bit terrifying.

#Uzbekistan has found itself deep within cultural wars debates. In our latest magazine, @katiedd.bsky.social speaks to @joannalillis.bsky.social about her new book and how social media is being used to promote traditional values among young men:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

Time to bin the Ring?

Absolute kudos to @weratedogs.com to use their platform to surface this vital issue.

They could stay silent but haven't

Books are being challenged in Scottish schools. Librarians fear a 'chilling effect' on freedom of speech Dozens of complaints about reading material in school libraries have been received, with campaigners warning that "book bans" could increase.

“Very often this is happening behind closed doors, sometimes on the request of just one parent" - Index's @katiedd.bsky.social speaking to @theferret.scot about the rise of book bans in school libraries in #Scotland⬇️
www.theferret.scot/books-scotti...

Absolutely. It’s wild. A regular reminder of why we need to read terms and conditions.

Brilliant piece, thank you. I just read it shouting “exactly!” over and over. Also, I nearly fell of my chair hearing about that Hearst copyright clause.

A damning demonstration of how far #HongKong has fallen from democracy, the rule of law and a commitment to human rights

We call them “death peas”

Great investigation here on what’s going on in Scotland. And pleased to be able to share my thoughts with the Ferret team.

You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof. What happens when you do minimal screening before hiring agents, arming them, and sending them into the streets? We're all finding out.

Incredible piece here from @laurajedeed.bsky.social for @slate.com. So fascinating in fact, that I’m now running late.

(Advance warning, it’s paywalled)

slate.com/news-and-pol...

Delighted to be part of this, and to get another chance to waffle on about book bans.

Meet the Anti-Fracking Nanas Why older women are dedicating their retirement to leaving a better world behind.

"The fight had come to her, and it was impossible to ignore." Meet the older women who are dedicating their retirement to leaving a better world behind: the Anti-Fracking Nanas. Story by @katiedd.bsky.social.

In February, Index's @katiedd.bsky.social will speak at the conference After Section 28: LGBTQIA+ Rights in an Age of Censorship and Backlash to talk about the creep of censorship across education and public institutions.
Get tickets: www.tickettailor.com/events/after...

Great culture can save lives. Literally.

Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

This does not help all of us editors who obsessively check that the “saved as draft” option is selected. Nightmare fodder, I tell you.

#UKbudget

The Shrinking Space for Media Freedom Once we lose a free press, we lose everything it protects.

“Because once we’ve lost press freedom, it’s only a matter of time before we lose everything it protects.” @katiedd.bsky.social on the growing restrictions of press freedom around the world.

Americans seeking greater sanctuary in UK academia might want to take heed...

This summer, I sat down with three women who escaped North Korea. I did not expect us to talk about the power of K-drama at such length.

UK librarians face growing challenges as they find themselves caught in the middle of debates over intellectual freedom & culture wars. Social media only fuels the tension. Index’s @katiedd.bsky.social reports back on a discussion in Scottish Parliament: www.indexoncensorship.org/2025/10/scot...

My latest for @conversationalist.org on the terrible state of global press freedom and why we should all care.

It was such a pleasure to talk to Rachel Seiffert for #BannedBooksWeekUK. We talked about dark family histories, school book bans and why staying silent is an active decision.

The Yacoubian Building author, #AlaaAlAswany, saw his book banned in #Egypt - a reminder of why dictators fear stories that speak truth. What are you reading for #BannedBooksWeekUK? www.indexoncensorship.org/bannedbooksw...

Imagine the worst possible government you can - I mean real bad guys. Now imagine they have access to the new anti-protest powers being suggested.

And that, for starters, is why it must not happen.