Beyond the Filter is a podcast about censorship. It includes censorship through laws, self-censorship, and corporate censorship. It includes censorship of art and fiction, censorship of political dissent, and censorship of self-expression, especially when it comes to sex and gender. It also looks at the reasons why we censor, the effects of censorship, and alternatives to censorship.
In the season finale of Beyond the Filter, Jeremy and Brandy are joined by Shambhawi Paudel (ILGA Asia) and Mar Díaz (digital rights and LGBTQ advocate) for a wide-ranging conversation on censorship, platform power, and queer expression across Europe and Asia. From colonial-era morality laws and online entrapment in parts of Asia to shadowbanning, algorithmic bias, and the limits of the EU’s Digital Services Act, the episode explores how governments and platforms alike are reshaping digital space in the name of “safety.” The guests examine why sex workers and LGBTQ+ communities are often first and hardest hit by over-moderation, how fictional and AI-generated content is being swept into expanding criminal frameworks, and whether privacy and human rights law offer better tools to address real harms like deepfake abuse. As a preview of two upcoming RightsCon workshops, the conversation asks a central question: how do we protect people online without collapsing the line between personal expression and lived abuse? Resources mentioned during this episode Drawing the Line Watchlist 2025 – A research report covering 10 countries that reveals how the conflation of personal expression with lived abuse is diverting resources away from protecting real victims from harm. Resources – ILGA Asia – A central repository of reports, policy briefs, statements, and research publications produced by ILGA Asia, covering LGBTIQ human rights, civic space, legal reform, and regional advocacy developments across Asia.. Legal Barriers to Freedom of Expression – From the ILGA World Database, an interactive global database documenting laws that restrict freedom of expression related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), including criminal, administrative, and morality-based provisions affecting LGBTIQ communities. Platform Accountability: a rule-of-law checklist — a report by the European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance outlining recommendations on platform governance, content moderation, and accountability for sex workers’ rights. Freedom on the Net 2024: The Struggle for Trust Online — Freedom House’s annual digital rights assessment across 72 countries, covering internet freedom and online expression. Repro Uncensored Research Page — the research archive page for Repro Uncensored, featuring reports and investigations on digital censorship and platform control. Manifesto for Sex-Positive Social Media — a manifesto setting out guiding principles for platforms, governments, and policymakers to support sex-positive approaches to social media content and governance. The post Beyond the Filter: Sexual Content Online: Who Gets Protected and Who Gets Policed? appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
3/3/26 • 45:29
In this episode of Beyond the Filter, Brandy and Jeremy examine how gender-based harm is being amplified by digital platforms and AI tools, using the recent Grok scandal on X as a case study. The chatbot’s ability to generate sexualized, non-consensual images of real women and girls exposed serious failures in platform governance and safeguards beyond-the-filter-ep-11. Joining the discussion is Sofia Bonilla, Strategy & Partnerships Lead at the Integrity Institute, who explains what TFGBV is, who is most vulnerable to it, and why online abuse often escalates into lasting psychological, social, and economic harm. The conversation explores how AI image generation has lowered the barriers to abuse, blurred legal and ethical boundaries, and intensified the silencing of women, girls, and gender-diverse people online. References Technology‑facilitated Gender‑based Violence: A Growing Threat An Infographic Guide to Technology‑facilitated Gender‑based Violence (TFGBV) Measuring the Prevalence of Online Violence against Women It’s Everyone’s Problem: Mainstreaming Responses to Technology‑Facilitated Gender‑Based Violence Digital Violence, Real World Harm: Evaluating Survivor‑Centric Tools for Intimate Image Abuse in the age of Gen AI New Report Calls for Proactive Solutions to Tech‑Facilitated Gender‑Based Violence Strong Words, Slow Action: The Grok Reckoning What OpenAI’s Latest Red‑Teaming Challenge Reveals About the Evolution of AI “Safety” Practices Fostering Healthy Masculinities: Building Resilience Against Online Misogyny Safety by design, online content moderation & community management The post Beyond the Filter: Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
2/1/26 • 29:08
This episode discusses Australia’s groundbreaking social media minimum age law, which mandates that platforms block users under 16. The conversation explores the implications of this law on free expression, mental health, cyberbullying, and the responsibilities of both the government and parents. It also delves into the enforcement challenges and the potential impact on adult users’ privacy, while considering alternative approaches to protecting children online without infringing on their rights. Further reading for this episode Australian social media minimum-age law & age assurance Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 – Bill Digest, Parliament of Australia. Australian Government, Social Media Minimum Age – Fact Sheet (Infrastructure and Transport Dept, July 2025). Dept. of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Comms & Arts: Social media minimum age explainer (Infrastructure and Transport Dept) eSafety Commissioner: Social media age restrictions hub (eSafety Commissioner) OAIC: Social Media Minimum Age privacy guidance, including age assurance types (OAIC) eSafety: Age Assurance Issues Paper (July 2024, eSafety Commissioner) Age Assurance Technology Trial reports (Age Assurance Technology Trial) Prevalence of youth social-media use ACIL Allen / eSafety research: “Navigating the digital world: social media and the wellbeing of Australia’s youth” – 96% of 10–15-year-olds had used social media (ACIL Allen and eSafety Commissioner) Mental health & social media Sala et al., “Social Media Use and adolescents’ mental health and well-being: An umbrella review” (Current Opinion in Psychology, 2024). Blackwell et al., “Adolescent Social Media Use and Mental Health in the Digital Age” (J Adolescent Health, 2025). Kerr et al., “Problematic social media use and its relationship with depression or anxiety” (J Adolescent Health review context). Fassi et al., “Social media use in adolescents with and without mental health conditions” (Nature Human Behaviour, 2025). Barzilay et al., “Smartphone Ownership, Age of Smartphone Acquisition, and Health Outcomes” (Pediatrics, 2026). Cyberbullying Patchin & Hinduja, “2023 Cyberbullying Data” (Cyberbullying Research Center, Feb 2024). Pew Research Center, Teens and Cyberbullying (Pew Research Center, 2022). PACER bullying stats and tween cyberbullying data (PACER Center). Online child sexual exploitation & grooming Malcolm, “Against ‘chat control’: we can’t eliminate child abuse by eliminating privacy” (The Guardian, October 2025) NSPCC FOI analysis on “Sexual communication with a child” offences and platform breakdown (NSPCC). Childlight Global Child Safety Institute, Into the Light index + UNSW “More than 300 million child victims of online sexual abuse globally” explainer (CSA Centre). ACCCE / AFP releases on 41% increase and 82,764 reports (Australian Federal Police) Radicalisation & extremism online Europol, EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) 2023 & 2024–25 (Europol) RAN, Extremists’ use of gaming (adjacent) platforms and Online radicalisation papers (Migration and Home Affairs) Australian Parliament, Extremism and the online environment (Australian Parliament House Committee report citing ASIO). Age assurance & bias / effectiveness AATT reports + Senate Committee chapter on age assurance bias and teen thresholds (The Guardian) OAIC guidance and UK Ofcom statements on age assurance and age checks (Financial Times) Shaffique, “Behavioural profiling for age assurance: do the ends justify the means?” (International Data Privacy Law, 2025). Parental controls, parenting practices Family Online Safety Institute, Connected & Protected: Insights from FOSI’s 2025 Online Safety Survey (Family Online Safety Institute). Pew Research Center, Parents, Teens and Digital Monitoring (Pew Research Center, 2016). Kaspersky on parental-control uptake (~50%) (Kaspersky) HCI/CS studies on parental mediation & complexity (e.g. Yu et al. 2024 arXiv). Alternatives: age-appropriate design, targeted age checks, etc. UK ICO Children’s Code / Age-Appropriate Design Code (ICO). California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AB 2273) and commentary (Legislative Information) UK Online Safety Act explainer and age-assurance rules for pornography and harmful content (Financial Times). The post Beyond the Filter: Australia’s Under 16 Social Media Ban appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
1/1/26 • 29:29
In this special edition of Beyond the Filter, hosts Brandy Brightman and Jeremy Malcolm present the global launch of the Drawing the Line Watchlist—a groundbreaking report examining how ten countries around the world are increasingly blurring the line between personal expression (art, fiction, advocacy, consensual adult material) and lived abuse involving real victims. Joined by three members of the project’s Advisory Board—Emma Shapiro, Ashley Remminga, and Zora Rush—this live podcast-webinar explores how censorship, moral panic, and poorly drafted laws are reshaping the digital landscape for artists, queer communities, and marginalized creators. Together, the panel unpacks: Why fictional content is being conflated with real sexual abuse, and how law enforcement resources are being redirected away from crimes with actual victims How artists, especially those depicting bodies or erotic themes, face uneven and often punitive moderation The impact of moral panics on queer and trans fandom spaces, and the historical roots of these controversies How AI systems struggle with context, nuance, and cultural bias—and what it means for sexual expression and safety online Examples of global overreach, including prosecutions of artists, writers, and even teenagers for fictional material Five key reforms governments should adopt to restore clarity, protect children, and uphold human rights Guests share on-the-ground insights from their domains—arts advocacy, queer cultural research, and responsible AI—while Jeremy previews the Watchlist’s findings, including startling shifts in enforcement patterns and international case studies. The conversation closes with actionable recommendations for policymakers, platforms, and civil society about how to genuinely keep children safe without eroding creative and queer expression. For the full report and the Drawing the Line Principles, visit: drawingthelineprinciples.org. You can also watch this episode as a webinar, with bonus live Q&A content. The post Beyond the Filter: Drawing the Line Watchlist appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
12/10/25 • 56:03
Hosts Brandy and Jeremy talk with Dr. Craig Harper of Nottingham Trent University about his research on whether fantasy sexual materials—like AI-generated images, cartoons, or sex dolls—are linked to real-world offending. Dr. Harper explains that, despite common policy assumptions, there’s no evidence such materials increase risk. Across multiple studies, his team has found no connection between fictional sexual content and offending, and in some cases, higher sexual satisfaction may even relate to lower self-reported risk. He discusses the ethical limits of this research, why criminalization may target low-risk individuals, and how therapists can thoughtfully navigate disclosures about fantasy material use. Harper also addresses the backlash researchers face when data challenge moral intuitions, urging listeners to base prevention efforts on evidence, not instinct. The post Beyond the Filter: Fantasy Sexual Materials and Offending appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
11/1/25 • 42:40
Brandy and Jeremy unpack the political turmoil after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. They highlight the double standards in how violence is mourned across party lines and how Kirk’s death was used to justify sweeping crackdowns—from visa cancellations to labeling Antifa a terrorist group. The hosts then explore the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel after he mocked the right’s narrative, exposing how Trump-era pressure on media threatens free speech. With historical parallels to authoritarian propaganda, they warn of growing censorship while noting the pushback that forced Kimmel’s return. Their message is clear: defending satire and dissent is essential to defending democracy itself. The post Beyond the Filter: The Assassination of Charlie Kirk and the Censorship of Jimmy Kimmel appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
10/1/25 • 33:13
Brandy and Jeremy speak with journalist Michael McGrady Jr about two growing threats to online sexual expression: financial censorship and age verification laws. They discuss recent crackdowns, including the financial censorship of adult games on Steam and itch.io, and the effects of the UK’s Online Safety Act requiring ID checks for many sites. Michael explains how these measures harm both privacy and the livelihoods of sex workers, game developers, and queer creators. Learn how long-running moral campaigns combined with corporate risk aversion are creating a perfect storm for the suppression of lawful expression worldwide, and discover real ways to protect children without censorship. The post Beyond the Filter: Age Verification, Payments, Porn, and Censorship appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
9/1/25 • 51:29
In this episode of Beyond the Filter, hosts Jeremy and Brandy delve into the creation of Fan Refuge, a new social media platform designed for fans by fans. Jeremy shares insights into how Fan Refuge aims to provide a censorship-free space while ensuring user safety through innovative tools and community guidelines. Discover the challenges and inspirations behind this project, and learn how Fan Refuge plans to stand out in the landscape of fan websites. Join us as we explore the future of fan communities online. The post Beyond the Filter: Fan Refuge appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
8/1/25 • 32:51
In this episode, hosts Jeremy and Brandy speak with F15-H (Fish), an artist from Hong Kong now living in mainland China, about a shocking wave of arrests targeting fanfiction writers on the Chinese platform MyHD Books. Over 500 authors—predominantly young women and college students—were arrested in May on charges of public indecency, facing penalties of up to 10 years in prison simply for writing erotic fanfiction. Fish reveals how these arrests were triggered when the Taiwan-based platform introduced monetization features, giving authorities a pretext to crack down on content that had existed for years. The conversation explores China’s gendered approach to censorship, where female-created content faces harsher penalties than male-oriented material, and draws troubling parallels to rising puritanical movements worldwide. From doll nipples getting creators shadow-banned from payment systems to fans reporting writers to the government over shipping preferences, Fish paints a picture of a surveillance state where fiction is treated more seriously than real crimes—and warns that similar trends are emerging globally. The post Beyond the Filter: Fanfic arrests in China appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
7/1/25 • 43:32
This month on Beyond the Filter, Brandy and Jeremy are joined by Aurélie Petit, PhD candidate in Film Studies at Concordia University and author of the recent Porn Studies article The Limits of Zero Tolerance Policies for Animated Pornographic Media. Together, they explore the complex and often contradictory ways digital platforms moderate animated sexual content. Why is animation treated with suspicion, and how do automated moderation tools fail to understand its nuances? What risks do creators face when ambiguous, stylized, or queer content gets lumped in with illegal material under blanket zero-tolerance policies? Aurélie unpacks the cultural history of hentai, lolicon, and shotacon, discusses her analysis of 30 platform policies, and calls for a more nuanced, community-informed approach to moderation. Along the way, the discussion touches on censorship, consent, creative freedom, AI-generated porn, and the politics of representation in animation. Resources cited in this episode: “The Limits of Zero Tolerance Policies for Animated Pornographic Media” (Aurélie Petit, 2024) “The Hentai Streaming Platform Wars” (Aurélie Petit, 2024) Indie Porn: Revolution, Regulation, and Resistance (Zahra Stardust, 2024) The post Beyond the Filter: Aurélie Petit on Censorship of Animated Porn and its Limits appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
5/29/25 • 28:38
Under Trump and Project 2025, censorship isn’t creeping in — it’s charging full force. From gutting public media and defunding the arts to banning words like “diversity” and “trauma,” the far-right agenda aims to erase marginalized voices, rewrite culture, and muzzle dissent. By reviving the Comstock Act, weaponizing the FCC, and attacking DEI and online speech, this authoritarian blueprint threatens free expression, queer visibility, and artistic resistance. But artists, educators, and activists aren’t staying silent — they’re fighting back with truth, satire, and solidarity. This episode is a wake-up call to resist the silencing machine. Resources cited in this episode: Defunding public broadcasting: Trump wants to cut NPR and PBS funding. He could succeed this time | US news | The GuardianWill Trump Defund NPR And PBS? Here’s What We Know As President Attacks The BroadcastersVoice of America has to provide accurate, objective and comprehensive news – could that all change?Kari Lake meets with Voice of America’s overseers, raising concerns over its independenceFCC: Project-2025-Civil-Rights-Technology.pdfNEA: Trump Executive Orders Target the Arts, Culture, and Science SectorsKennedy Center: How Trump’s influence is reshaping the Kennedy CenterBanned terms: The List of Trump’s Forbidden Words That Will Get Your Paper Flagged at NSFComstock Act: Democrats Introduce Legislation to Serve as Barrier for Impending Comstock Act RevivalAge verification for porn: AVP Association Update on Recent DevelopmentsSection 230: 2025’s Implications for the Telecommunications IndustryTimes v Sullivan: A Supreme Court Ruling Could End Press Freedom as We Know It Further reading:At NSF, executive orders add up to a culture of fearDonald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Centre, explainedTrump Administration Threatens ‘Extreme’ Cuts to the National Endowment for the HumanitiesNot deregulation but heavy-handed regulation at the Trump FCCWill Trump target America’s public broadcasters? It’s complicated The post Beyond the Filter: Project 2025 appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
5/1/25 • 55:54
In the inaugural episode of Beyond the Filter, hosts Jeremy Malcolm and Brandy Brightman discuss the complexities of censorship in the digital age. They explore how censorship is often driven by moral panic, particularly around issues of safety and sexuality, and how it can backfire, leading to more harm than good. The conversation highlights the importance of creating safe online spaces that respect freedom of expression while addressing genuine concerns about online safety. They introduce the Center for Online Safety and Liberty, an organization aimed at promoting both safety and liberty online, and discuss the challenges posed by simplistic solutions to complex problems, such as age verification laws and the potential repeal of Section 230. The episode sets the stage for future discussions on various topics related to online freedom and safety, including Project 2025 and its potential impact on free speech. Resources cited in this episode: How LGBTQ Content Could Become Illegal, Jeremy Malcolm, 24 March 2025 The post Beyond the Filter: Pilot Episode appeared first on Center for Online Safety and Liberty.
4/1/25 • 39:27
