US education department ends ‘hoax’ investigations into book bans

Trump-era decision criticized by advocacy groups as being in direct conflict with freedom of speech'

A decision by the US education department to end their investigations into book bans in the country has sparked backlash from advocacy and civil liberties groups.

The DOE's Office for Civil Rights announced on Friday that it had dismissed 11 complaints related to book bans and it will no longer employ a book ban coordinator" to investigate local school districts and parents.