Mass Surveillance Forcing Writers Into Self-Censorship, Says PEN American Center Survey

Self-censorship among writers in liberal democracies is growing due to surveillance activities in the U.S. and Western Europe, said a PEN American Center survey released Monday. PEN commissioned the FDR Group to do the survey, which received 772 responses from writers living in 50 counties. Thirty-six percent of those surveyed said freedom of expression “enjoys less protection” in the U.S. than in their home countries, said PEN. “Mass surveillance has also gravely damaged the United States’ reputation as a haven for free expression at home, and a champion of free expression abroad,” it said. Self-censorship among writers in liberal democracies is approaching levels “seen in non-democratic countries,” it said. “Writers are concerned that expressing certain views even privately or researching certain topics may lead to negative consequences,” said PEN.