Taylor Lorenz’s Power User None Of This is About Online Safety
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Nov 28, 2025 Arun Annow, an independent journalist and live streamer, dives into the ongoing persecution of the Eelam Tamil people in Sri Lanka. He discusses the government's oppressive online safety laws that mask censorship as a means to silence dissent. Arun recounts the harsh consequences for journalists and the alarming use of social media for organizing protests. He warns that Sri Lanka's tactics could inspire similar laws in the U.S., urging listeners to stay informed about the implications of such measures on free speech and press freedom.
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Longstanding Persecution Of Eelam Tamils
- Sri Lanka has long persecuted the Eelam Tamil population, including military occupation since 2009.
- The state frames dissent as terrorism to hide systemic abuses and avoid accountability.
Online Safety Act Enables Vague Censorship
- The 2024 Online Safety Act grants vague powers to an Online Safety Commission to police speech.
- Arun Annow explains those vague provisions let authorities detain and question critics arbitrarily.
Journalist Detained After Reporting Mass Grave
- Journalist Kumanan Kanambadipile reported excavations of a mass grave on Twitter and was taken in for questioning on terrorism charges.
- His case shows how reporting on atrocities can trigger criminalization under current laws.