US school book bans hit 12,000 in 2025-26; AI used to vet titles

Book censorship in U.S. schools rose to nearly 12,000 bans on over 7,000 titles during the 2025-2026 school year, with Stephen King the most targeted author. School districts are increasingly using AI to screen books, a novel development that may accelerate censorship. The trend reflects ongoing political polarization over education content, with implications for civil liberties and local governance.