Vandals at the Gates
Profs and pols behaving badly in Nebraska
Free Speech
Knock It Off, Lazy News Outlets. 'Momo' Isn't Telling Kids To Hurt Themselves.
When absurd ghost stories are passed off as actual journalism
Can a Person Be Banned from Posting Anything About Someone Else, Because His Past Speech Supposedly Stems from a "Vendetta"?
Yes, said an Ohio Court of Appeals majority opinion, reasoning that the speaker's past speech "was not engaged in for a legitimate reason, but instead for an illegitimate reason born out of a vendetta seeking to cause mental distress to his mother and sister and to exact personal revenge." No, argue the EFF, Prof. Aaron Caplan, and I in a brief we've just filed with the Ohio Supreme Court.
Court Ordered Divorcing Husband Not "to Post Anything on Facebook … in Regards to This Action"
Fortunately, the California Court of Appeal has just reversed the decision, on First Amendment grounds.
"Libertarianism and Its Limits": Podcast
Nick Gillespie is interviewed by Spiked's Brendan O'Neill about the Enlightenment, free speech, and crony capitalism.
Defendant Has No First Amendment Right to Wear "Black Lives Matter" T-Shirt at Trial
So holds the Kansas Court of Appeals, in reasoning that applies equally to any clothing that displays a message; the defendant in this particular case was on trial for setting fire to a truck that was displaying Confederate flags.
"Cyberstalking" Ban Violates the First Amendment
So a federal district court in Washington just concluded, about a Washington statute that criminalized "anonymous or repeated" speech intended "to harass, ... torment, or embarrass."
Did Twitter Punish Criticism of Government Propaganda About Smokeless Tobacco?
After a harm reduction advocate slammed a hardy but misleading factoid, users who retweeted his message complained that they had been shadowbanned.
A Conservative Got Punched in the Face for Protesting Hate Crime Hoaxes
"Encouraging violence"
The Media's Covington Coverage Was Appalling, but Nick Sandmann's Libel Lawsuit Is Not the Answer
A teenager wrongly accused of harassing a Native American activist sues The Washington Post for $250 million.
Louisiana Mom Arrested Under 'Notoriety' Law for Posting Video of a School Fight
But what she did wasn't actually illegal.
"Free Speech Rules," My New YouTube Video Series -- Episode 2 (Hate Speech) Now Out
Please share it widely -- there will be at least nine more in the upcoming months.
How the Feds Are Using Civil Asset Forfeiture to Threaten Free Speech
Sex, publishing, and quasi-legal theft collide in the Backpage prosecution.
Justice Thomas's Skepticism of New York Times v. Sullivan
First Amendment limitations on libel and other torts are complicated
The 3 Rules of Hate Speech and the First Amendment
Episode 2 of Free Speech Rules by UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh
A Guide to Surviving Your 15 Minutes of Hate
Here's how to navigate America's newest ritual.
Democracy in Decline?
If its recent record is any indication, Winston Churchill might have been wrong about democracy.
Hyperlink Taxes? Meme Bans? E.U. Pushes Forward with Massively Terrible Copyright Regulations
The media are supposed to fight censorship. But to protect their financial interests, some European publishers want to mandate it.
Remembering Rushdie: 30 Years Ago, the Novelist Was Marked for Death by Ayatollah Khomeini
Jonathan Rauch says that the fatwa against The Satanic Verses author ushered in a new age of intolerance.
FCC Commissioner Wants to Ban E-Cigarette Ads, Because 'Public Interest'
Jessica Rosenworcel overlooks the statutory and constitutional obstacles to her plan.
Last Year Saw 'Furthest-Reaching Attempt to Censor Online Speech' Since the 1990s, Say FOSTA Challengers
As the lawsuit against FOSTA hits appeals court, three essays about the law that everyone should read.
Another "Stop Talking About Him" Order -- Apparently Covering Even Republishing Police Report
"Defendant shall not post on the internet ... any information whatsoever regarding William Siegle."
Dark Law: Published Michigan Precedents on Protection Orders Missing from Westlaw
Three cases, including the two leading Michigan precedents on the First Amendment and restraining orders, are invisible to lawyers who rely on Westlaw. Lexis is also missing two of the three, but it's changing its policies to include them. And a federal statute is behind this.
Los Angeles Demanding That City Contractors Disclose Ties to the NRA
But the new ordinance violates the First Amendment, because it tends to deter (and deliberately so) association with an advocacy group.
'Sex Offenders Are Not Second-Class Citizens,' Says Judge While Nixing Alabama Rules on First Amendment Grounds
The decision rejects driver's licenses labeled "CRIMINAL SEX OFFENDER" and a broad demand for reports on internet use.
Zestimates, Estimates, and Opinions
Zillow has no obligation to take down (or revise) property value estimates to which the property owners object.
Facebook Is Calling the Cops on Sad Users: Reason Roundup
Plus: Rapper 21 Savage released from ICE custody and more details on how Homeland Security scammed immigrant students
Lesson on Islam Didn't Violate Establishment Clause or Free Speech Clause
The Fourth Circuit rejects a challenge to a history class being shown a slide stating "Most [Muslims'] faith is stronger than the average [Christian's]," and being required to fill in the blanks in "There is no god but __ and Muhammad is the __ of Allah," as part of a worksheet on the "Five Pillars" of Islam.
Court Reverses Order That Barred Former Church Member from Saying Anything About Pastor
The order, entered under the Illinois Stalking No Contact Order Act, barred Chester Wilk from "communicating, publishing or communicating in any form any writing naming or regarding [Pastor Eric Flood], his family or any employee, staff or member of the congregation of South Park Church in Park Ridge."
English Woman Reportedly Arrested, Partly for "Misgendering" Trans Activist, Ordered by Court to Stop
A judge "issued an interim injunction that bans [Kate Scottow] from posting any personal information about [Stephanie] Hayden on social media, 'referencing her as a man' or linking her to her 'former male identity.'"
Critiquing Israel Policy Worse Than White Nationalism, Says GOP Leader: Reason Roundup
Plus: Klobuchar and Warren join Democrat 2020 contest and AOC retracts "Green New Deal" draft.
Is Threatening To Publish Bezos' Nude/Lewd Pics Criminal Blackmail?
When is a threat to reveal something embarrassing blackmail, and when is it permissible? Plus a special Bill Cosby (but non-sexual-assault) connection.
Illinois Seeks Social Media Accounts of Gun Owners: Reason Roundup
Plus: Nancy Pelosi on the "Green New Deal"; John Boehner, cannabis lobbyist
Nevada Fighters and the Right to Trash Talk
But the Nevada State Athletic Commission is considering restricting speech after taunts spark a brawl
Are You a Woman Traveling Alone? Marriott Might Be Watching You.
How big hotel chains became arms of the surveillance state.
Another Blow for Fake News About Fake News: Reason Roundup
Plus: Author Zadie Smith talking cultural appropriation, and Budweiser versus Big Corn
Attempted Vanishing of Online Posts, All the Way Down
Don Lichterman was convicted of forgery; I wrote about it. Someone using his name tried to get Google to vanish my article; I wrote about that. Now someone is trying to get Google to vanish that later article -- and to vanish online court records that refer to Mr. Lichterman's case.
Man Fined $210 in Switzerland for Saying "Allahu Akbar" to a Friend in Public
A police official said "manner in which the phrase had been spoken was key ... and added police officers would have acted in the same way if someone had run around a local square swearing loudly"; but the man denies he was shouting.
4 Cases That Show the Scope of Services, Speech, and Conduct Protected by Section 230
Gun buyers, gay lovers, cannabis customers, and Yelp users are just a few of the groups that benefit from this federal law.
Libel Law and the Covington Boys
Facts vs. opinions; compensatory/presumed/punitive damages; negligence, recklessness, and knowledge; libel per se; timing; choice of law; and more defamation law fun.
Attempt to Get Google to Vanish My Article About a Forged Court Order
The anatomy of two unfounded deindexing requests.
Arizona Legislator Wanted To Tax Online Porn To Pay for Border Wall
Behold HB 2444, which would have required a $20 fee to remove pre-installed porn filters on devices that connect to the internet.
How the Internet Is Now Making Us Less Free: Reason Roundup
Plus: FDA greenlights new 23andMe test, Kamala Harris gets the Onion treatment, and nobody likes Trump's new shutdown salve.
