Facebook Removes More Fake Pages Trying to Make You Mad About Politics
If you were planning to attend an anti-right rally in D.C. next week, we've got some awkward news for you.
Free Speech
Likely Sarcastic Facebook Post Can't Justify Arrest of Author for Threats
Police generally need to investigate matters further, to see if the post was really a threat or sarcasm -- and if they don't investigate further, and don't have a good reason for the immediate arrest, they can be sued for a Fourth Amendment violation, and be denied qualified immunity.
What Janus Got Right -- and Wrong
Compelled Subsidies and the First Amendment -- a new article with co-blogger Eugene Volokh, forthcoming in the Harvard Law Review
Defense Distributed Sues New Jersey, Los Angeles Over Legal Threats
The authorities threatened the gun-making software and hardware company. Now the company is striking back, citing its First and Second Amendment rights.
Gun Control Groups Fail to Stop Distribution of Gun-Making Computer Files
The previously prohibited computer files related to making guns at home are now legally available in resolution of long-standing lawsuit involving Cody Wilson and Defense Distributed.
School District Provides $25K + Apology to Student Barred from Wearing "Trump Border Wall" T-Shirt
A follow-up to the May federal court decision holding that the school district's actions violated the First Amendment.
Twitter Sucks Because We Suck. Don't Blame @Jack
If social media feels like a cesspool, don't go swimming.
Cleveland City Councilman Got Order Requiring Two Citizen Critics to Stay 500 Feet Away from Him
Yet the order (narrowed on appeal to 50 feet, but still unconstitutional) seems to have been based on pretty normal -- if acrimonious -- local political debate. We're asking the Ohio Supreme Court to review the decision upholding it.
Trump Says 'Shadow-Banning' Conservatives on Twitter Is 'Illegal,' Promises Investigation
Trump used Twitter to blast Twitter for allegedly censoring several prominent conservative leaders.
Liberty Makes Us Unfree, Says the ACLU
The government wouldn't abuse us if we'd stop making it upset, according to the one-time civil liberties advocacy group.
Twitter 'Shadow Bans' Affect Some Conservative Leaders but Not Their Liberal Counterparts
Devin Nunes gets the Richard Spencer treatment.
Nikki Haley Warns Young Conservatives Against 'Owning the Libs'
"I know that it's fun and that it can feel good, but step back and think about what you're accomplishing when you do this-are you persuading anyone?"
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Rails Against Campus Bias Response Teams
"Donald Trump doesn't believe anyone can tell him how to speak," said Sessions.
Statistics in NIFLA v. Becerra, the Crisis Pregnancy Center Disclosure Case
Check out how the majority and the dissent describe one aspect of the California disclosure rules.
House Committee on Un-American Activities
The Life and Death of a Hollywood Blacklist
Sometimes censorship is a public-private partnership.
Should Facebook Ban Holocaust Deniers and Professional Trolls?: Podcast
Reason's Robby Soave and Mike Riggs debate whether Mark Zuckerberg's should de-platform haters such as Alex Jones and Infowars to improve the user experience.
"Indictment: Man Behind Cyberattacks Was Working for Wichita Lawyer"
Federal prosecutors have indicted two men for attacking Leagle (an online repository of court opinions), RipOffReport (a consumer gripe site), and JaburgWilk.com (the site of a law firm that sometimes represents RipOffReport).
Mark Zuckerberg's Sister Simultaneously Rejects and Defends Facebook Censorship
Censorship is "nefarious." Unless it's being carried out by the government.
Do Offensive Social Media Posts Impugn the Criminal Justice System?
San Bernardino County investigator called Rep. Maxine Waters "a loud-mouthed c#nt" and mocked the victim of a police shooting. The DA appears unconcerned.
Mark Zuckerberg Speaks Out Against Removing Holocaust-Denying Speech
Indeed, Facebook shouldn't set itself up as the arbiter of historical truth (or scientific truth or moral beliefs) -- and doing that even as to Holocaust denial would just yield pressure for much more.
The Framers Did Not Know From 3D-Printed Guns. So How Can They Be Covered by the Second Amendment?
A former congressman suggests that homemade plastic guns can be banned because they did not exist in 1791.
In Defense of Mark Zuckerberg Letting Holocaust Deniers Use Facebook
Silencing hate isn't the same thing as squelching it.
Florida Couple Gets to Keep Home's 'Starry' Paint Job; Mayor Must Publicly Apologize for $10,000 Fine
In a settlement reached Tuesday night, two residents of Mount Dora, Florida, will receive $15,000 and permission to keep their Van Gogh-inspired paint job.
When Code Is Speech, Tech Like 3D-Printed Guns Sees Greater Protection from Censorship
Gun owners can now enjoy First and Second Amendment safeguards.
Former President Obama Criticizes Leftist Shutdown Culture
You can't make the world a better place, he says, if you silence "those who aren't like you because they are white or they are male."
Judge Rescinds His Order That Had Required L.A. Times to Alter Story
The Times had published material from a plea agreement that was supposed to be sealed, but had been erroneously released by the court.
Should This Obnoxious Drunk Be Punished for His Political Views?
That's what Illinois prosecutors are trying to do by charging Timothy Trybus with hate crimes for objecting to a woman's Puerto Rican flag shirt.
"Judge Orders LA Times to Alter Story About Glendale Cop"
A brewing First Amendment controversy, triggered by newspaper's publishing information about a plea agreement in the policeman's prosecution -- the agreement was intended to be sealed, but was inadvertently briefly released unsealed on the docket.
Stormy Daniels Was Arrested Because of a Terrible Law That Threatens Free Expression
When you give law enforcement a tool that can be used to target someone who has unpopular views, they will use it.
Pepe the Frog Meets the Copyright Cops
When alt-right activists adopted this amphibian as their own, were they stealing a cartoonist's property or exercising free speech?
Religious Leader Demands Suppression of "Blasphemous" Plays
So report Czech media.
Kyle Kashuv, Parkland Survivor Turned Conservative Activist, on Gun Rights and Free Speech
"I get a lot of death threats, I don't even think I notice them anymore."
Yes, 'Hate Groups' Can Hold Meetings in Libraries, Too
The American Library Association is facing criticism for reaffirming First Amendment rights.
Citing 'Public Safety,' University of Kansas Removes Flag Artwork That Made Republicans Upset
"This display has generated public safety concerns for our campus community."
Judge Kavanaugh and Justice Kennedy's Free Speech Legacy
Justice Kennedy was the most speech-protective justice on a speech-protective court. What happens to free speech once he is replaced?
First Circuit Holds Most Anti-Libel Injunctions Are Unconstitutional
Federal and state courts are divided on whether such injunctions are constitutional, and the U.S. Supreme Court has not weighed in.
Lawyers Say Michelle Carter Had a First Amendment Right to Tell Her Boyfriend to Kill Himself. They're Right.
"Carter's words encouraging Roy's suicide, however distasteful to this Court, were protected speech."
College Football Player Who Lost Scholarship Over YouTube Videos Can Sue School, Court Rules
Donald De La Haye says the University of Central Florida violated his First Amendment rights.
Owen Wilson Got Fat! And More Fake News That Shouldn't Be Regulated
We headed to the Venice Beach boardwalk to test the bullshit detectors of passersby.
The Government Will Allow Cody Wilson's Defense Distributed to Distribute Gun-Making Software
Second Amendment superlawyer Alan Gura doesn't think the settlement means the Trump administration are across-the-board gun rights defenders.
Brett Kavanaugh's Discouraging Record on the First Amendment and 'Commercial Speech'
Where does Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh stand on the First Amendment?
Tourist Gets 8 Years in Egyptian Prison for Facebook Video Blasting 'Son of a Bitch' Country
Egypt has no freedom of speech.
Is Membership in a Conservation Organization Proof of Criminal Intent to Harm Cattle?
Prosecutors in southern Utah have argued that they can prove that the closing of a corral gate was the crime of attempted wanton destruction of livestock by pointing to a defendant's membership in a conservation organization. Today I argue to the Utah Court of Appeals that it should review the First Amendment implications of the prosecutors' maneuver.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules for Conservative Professor Who Wrote Controversial Blog Post
Marquette is ordered to reinstate John McAdams.
A Gospel Group Sings Praises After Facebook Restores a Music Video It Deemed 'Political'
Facebook apologizes to Zion's Joy! after treating a music video like a campaign ad.
Marquette University "Breached Its Contract with Dr. McAdams When It Suspended Him for Engaging in Activity Protected by the Contract's Guarantee of Academic Freedom"
So holds this morning's important Wisconsin Supreme Court decision, by a 4-2 vote.
