David Kaye
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davidakaye.bsky.social
David Kaye
@davidakaye.bsky.social
16K followers 960 following 480 posts
californian. human rights, free expression, tech, international law. uc irvine. fulbright. article 19. prior: UN special rapporteur, GNI chair.

edu coalition (dm for details)

go bears!
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davidakaye.bsky.social
i could not be more disgusted (particularly since i am loooong past disappointed)
ADL Launches Initiative to Track and Monitor Mamdani Administration Policies and Appointments, Protect Jewish New Yorkers
November 5, 2025 at 8:30 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
independent media + vibrant public broadcasting is critical for democracy. check out the full panel at the Council of Europe's Forum for Democracy: www.coe.int/en/web/world...

i hadn't been to a conference with a cartoonist doing real-time work for a while. love it. today's got a little punchy
caricature of me (moi, gack!) with one audience member saying, "il parle bien cet americain" and another responding, "justement, il est venu en france pour pouvoir parler". ha ha ha.
November 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
it is worth keeping in mind that Venezuela has ratified the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court. As such, any war crime/crime ag humanity of sufficient gravity committed on its territory *could* be subject to ICC jurisdiction. (it hasn't ratified amendment on crime of aggression.)
note from ICC website about Venezuela's status as a party
October 31, 2025 at 6:11 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
this comes from the 'quaint' era of the early obama years, when there was a refusal by very serious people to take accountability seriously
Two goals should guide our way forward: prevention and accountability. We need a process that results in a clear narrative of the program so that systematic inhumane treatment does not recur. And we need one that demonstrates to would-be lawbreakers that consequences follow from lawbreaking. President Obama’s desire to keep his legislative agenda intact during this time of grave economic crisis should be taken into serious account, but not at the cost of our traditional commitment to the rule of law -- which is, as you’ve suggested already, the thing that holds us together as a nation.
October 31, 2025 at 3:26 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
the displacement of individuals who genuinely meet the definition of "refugee" for purposes of domestic and international law, by people clearly undeserving and highly politicized, is scandalous. public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-19752.pdf
from a just-published presidential determination: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, in accordance with section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157), and after appropriate consultations with the Congress, I hereby make the following determinations and authorize the following actions: The admissions of up to 7,500 refugees to the United States during Fiscal Year 2026 is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest. The admissions numbers shall primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa pursuant to Executive Order 14204, and other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands. Refugee admissions under this determination, which may reach but not exceed the numerical limit described herein, are in all respects subject to the requirements of other Presidential policies and actions, whether issued prior or subsequent to this determination
October 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
while we’re here together, here’s my most memorable experience of decades of going to dodger stadium.
autograph of ray bolger, the scarecrow in the original wizard of oz
October 28, 2025 at 5:21 AM
davidakaye.bsky.social
watson, listening to nebraska on a pleasant friday evening in southern california
white dog in portrait mode
October 25, 2025 at 12:48 AM
davidakaye.bsky.social
one of these countries might very well draft a resolution for the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to determine a threat or breach of int'l peace & security, just to have the Trump administration respond and, of course, veto it.
list of the 15 members of the UN Security Council
October 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
on Global Encryption Day, a reminder that digital security is *essential* for the exercise of human rights. from the conclusion of my 2015 report to the UN--> www.ohchr.org/en/documents...
Encryption and anonymity, and the security concepts behind them, provide the privacy and security necessary for the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in the digital age. Such security may be essential for the exercise of other rights, including economic rights, privacy, due process, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and the right to life and bodily integrity. Because of their importance to the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, restrictions on encryption and anonymity must be strictly limited according to principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and legitimacy in objective.
October 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
the university of arizona refuses to sign trump's 'contract'. it's a carefully done response and, in my view, about the best thing one could expect - esp given the state's politics. letter is here: president.arizona.edu/sites/defaul...

throwing shade: this compact isn't about merit
👇
At the same time, a federal research funding system based on anything other than merit would weaken the world’s preeminent engine for innovation, advancement of technology, and solutions to many of our nation’s most profound challenges. We seek no special treatment and believe in our ability to compete for federally funded research strictly on merit. As a demonstration of our commitment to collaboration with the federal government, I have included below the University of Arizona’s Statement of Principles. These principles are not just an expression of philosophy; they are a commitment to strengthen or continue reforms that benefit our students, advance our shared national interests, and protect the taxpayers. Our principles affirm that our university community remains rooted in the pursuit of excellence with clear standards, transparency, and accountability. We welcome the opportunity to engage other universities, higher education associations, members of Congress, and your administration to advance and implement our principles in alignment with the national interest.
October 21, 2025 at 3:17 AM
davidakaye.bsky.social
this is completely nuts, based on a lie about european law and propaganda favoring the far right
The proposals also advise Mr. Trump to prioritize Europeans who have been “targeted for peaceful expression of views online such as opposition to mass migration or support for ‘populist’ political parties.” That appeared to be a reference to the European far-right political party Alternative for Germany, whose leaders have trivialized the Holocaust, revived Nazi slogans and denigrated foreigners. Vice President JD Vance has criticized Germany for trying to suppress the views of the group, which is known as the AfD.
October 16, 2025 at 8:42 AM
davidakaye.bsky.social
this is the core of brown’s rejection of the so-called compact. ✊ www.brown.edu/sites/defaul...
text of two paragraphs from brown letter available at link
October 15, 2025 at 10:14 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
not how I remember it!
For nearly three hours, Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain’s once-fringe populist Reform U.K. Party, commanded an audience in Congress on Sept. 3 as he testified against his own country’s free-speech rules.
October 13, 2025 at 7:13 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
😢
sign going down escalator at schiphol airport says no balloons.
October 12, 2025 at 12:39 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
i thought USC liked Trojan horses but 🤷‍♂️ - I'm a UC guy.
In forceful speeches, University of Southern California department chairs, professors, researchers and others who attended the virtual meeting called the compact “egregiously invalid,” “probably unconstitutional,” “antithetical to principles of academic freedom” and “a Trojan horse.”
October 8, 2025 at 5:23 AM
davidakaye.bsky.social
What is ACLS?
Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 81 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS expands the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting our commitment to diversity of identity and experience. ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship.
October 6, 2025 at 11:25 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
this statement by the American Council of Learned Societies, one of the key orgs in higher ed, is exactly right.

reject the 'compact'. no ifs, no studies.

read and share and, for your opeds, steal.
I cannot post the entire alt text but it begins: On October 1, the White House proposed to nine leading American universities that they agree to a list of demands in exchange for receiving preferential access to research funding. The “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” undermines the long-standing independence of American academia. It works against the best interests of colleges and universities and of every one of us who has benefited from the knowledge they produce. We call for its immediate rejection by all institutions of higher education.
October 6, 2025 at 11:23 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
i reported for the UN Human Rights Council on how government demands on access providers, like the ones trump is pursuing, constitute a serious human rights violation. see docs.un.org/A/HRC/35/22
The government actions described below often fail to meet the standards of human rights law. Moreover, a lack of transparency pervades government interferences with the digital access industry. Failures of transparency include vague laws providing excessive discretion to authorities, legal restrictions on third party disclosures concerning government access to user data and specific gag orders. The lack of transparency undermines the rule of law as well as public understanding across this sector.5
October 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
on the first day of rosh hashana, rabbi sharon brous delivered one of the most intense sermons i've ever heard at a synagogue.

the sun has set, so according to jewish tradition the sermon may now be posted ikar.org/events/if-th...
beginning of central part of sermon: In that spirit, let me on this holy day register my dissent– based upon the mandates of my conscience, and my reading of Jewish history and our sacred texts and tradition. I register my dissent against revenge as state policy. Against the fevered pursuit of some messianic fantasy as a legitimate expression of our people’s national aspirations. I register my dissent against a political leadership that has willfully forgone its obligation first and foremost to human life and human dignity. That mocks the mitzvah of redemption of the captive, and seems to relish dividing our people, one against the other. A leadership that has .calamity walking a – ַמ ָּכה ְמ ַה ֶּל ֶכת become itself I register my dissent against a religious leadership that has traded moral complexity for immoral certainty, and robust non-conformity for silent complicity. I register my dissent against those who dare to condemn as an antisemite anyone mourning the death of Hind Rajab, the six year old Palestinian child crying out “SAVE ME” after her entire family was killed as they attempted to evacuate Gaza City. And against those who– in the name of justice(!)-- tore down posters of Ariel Bibas– his red hair and Batman pajamas and snuggles with his baby brother Kfir too humanizing, too threatening for those who live only in a world of villain and victim. I register my dissent against a diaspora that knowingly and unknowingly fuels the extremists in the region, while drowning out the voices of the peacebuilders. Those who wave banners of one team or the other like we’re in some sports arena, rather than lift up the collective call to a just and shared future for two peoples who are both victims of their violent, extremist leaders, and who both call that small sliver of land home.
September 25, 2025 at 4:06 AM
davidakaye.bsky.social
the administration is so over-the-top in its disdain of other countries and global norms of behavior (civility, anyone?) that bullying like this gets very little attention. but the state department treating a brazilian supreme court justice as a human rights violator is pure lawlessness.
state department press release from sept 22nd: "Sanctioning Support Network of Brazilian Judge Alexandre de Moraes" Today, the United States is sanctioning enablers of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, to include Moraes’ wife, Viviane Barci de Moraes, and their holding company, the Lex Institute. Moraes was designated on July 30 for serious human rights abuse. He has used his position to weaponize courts, authorize arbitrary pre-trial detentions, and suppress freedom of expression. These sanctions build on a series of actions taken by the Trump Administration to hold Moraes accountable for abusing his authority, creating a censorship complex, blatantly targeting political opponents, and committing serious human rights abuse. Those who protect and enable foreign malign actors like Moraes threaten U.S. interests and will also be held to account.
September 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
l'shana tovah to all who celebrate the jewish new year.
a calendar reminder that rosh hashana is starting
September 23, 2025 at 12:10 AM
davidakaye.bsky.social
this is not a great explanation. for one thing, it seems to immunize the trump admin for blame. but also it suggests that ABC monitors its comedian's jokes at sensitive moments. that's their choice, but it's certainly not one to embrace. variety.com/2025/tv/news...
“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive,” the company said in a statement. “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
September 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
in an interesting development that neither Israel nor the US will appreciate, Brazil has sought leave to intervene in the South Africa-Israel Genocide Case before the ICJ. www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...

among other things, its application makes this point 👇
a) No reguirement of exclusive in.tent 47. In Brazil's view, it does not follow therefrom that the existence of additional goals, such as military ones, would automatically exclude genocidal intent as the "only reasonable inference" which can be drawn from a pattern of conduct. 48. Such an interpretation would fail to recognize that human beings - and States alike - often have more than one motive or objective for their conduct. By setting an excessively restrictive standard of proof, it would also be incompatible with the principle ut res magis valeat quam pereat, and would deprive the Convention of its appropriate effects (effet utile).
September 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
the european convention on human rights gets at this problem in a way, though it's directed toward the state.
Prohibition of abuse of rights Nothing in this Convention may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein or at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the Convention.
September 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
davidakaye.bsky.social
good first graf in times report on trump admin assault on civil society

gift link www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/u...
President Trump has begun a major escalation in his long-running efforts to stifle political opposition in the United States, using the assassination of the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk to make the baseless argument that Democratic organizations and protesters are part of a violent conspiracy against conservative values and the American way of life.
September 17, 2025 at 5:16 AM