Free Speech
Court Refuses to Block Continued Distribution of DOGE Witness Deposition Videos
"[T]he materials at issue concern the conduct of public officials acting in their official capacities, which substantially diminishes any cognizable privacy interest and weighs against restriction."
4chan Sends Hilarious, Hamster-Filled Reminder That U.S. Companies Need Not Follow British Speech Regulations
"We are not in the mood to discuss the matter further, and have not been in the mood for 250 years."
Parents Aren't Required to "Unquestioningly Accept and Support Their Minor Children's Claims of Transsexual Identity or Preferred Pronouns"
From a termination of parental rights decision by the Ohio Court of Appeals.
Judge Blocks Lawyer's Distribution of Animation That Allegedly Shows "Uncommanded Discharge" of Sig Sauer Pistol
"This Animation is literally false as a factual matter," the judge concludes, issuing a permanent injunction against the use of the animation for advertising purposes.
Section 230's Legal Protections for Internet Speech Face New Challenge
This week, senators heard testimony over the foundation for modern online conversations.
Jury Clears Afroman of Defamation for Mocking Cops Who Raided His House
Ohio sheriff's deputies raided Afroman's house in 2022 based on a bogus tip, then sued the rapper after he released music videos mocking the deputies.
No Contempt Sanctions for Laura Loomer's Comments About CAIR, Magistrate Judge Recommends
Loomer had entered into a non-disparagement agreement to settle an earlier case, and the agreement had been adopted as a court order, but it also had an exception for statements responding to CAIR's statements about her.
TV Station News Managers Fired for Allegedly Anti-Gay Memo Can Go on with Their Defamation Suit Against Nexstar Media
"Often, two true statements can be juxtaposed in such a way that they imply an idea that is false, which, under Michigan law, gives rise to a cause of action for defamation."
Brendan Carr's Crusade To Reshape TV Journalism Is Blatantly Unconstitutional
The First Amendment does not allow the FCC chairman to police news coverage.
Court Backs First-Grader in Suit Over School Reaction to 'Any Life' Matters Drawing
Yes, 6-year-old students have First Amendment rights, the 9th Circuit says.
No Pseudonymity for Plaintiffs Alleging Sean Combs (P. Diddy) Sexually Assaulted Them
The Second Circuit just affirmed lower court decisions so holding.
Yes, the First Amendment Protects Free Speech for Noncitizens
"Freedom of speech and of press is accorded aliens residing in this country," according to a 1945 Supreme Court ruling.
Brendan Carr Says He Can Police TV Journalism Because Broadcast Licenses Are 'Free'
The FCC chairman's reasoning is faulty.
Trump Wants To Cover Up Bad News About the Iran War
And Middle Eastern dictatorships are helping him do it.
Brendan Carr and the Fog of War
In war, the facts are hard to determine. In Carr’s war against broadcasters, the facts are easier to see.
The Enduring Fight Over 'Fighting Words'
More than eight decades ago, the Supreme Court invented a vague First Amendment exception that would-be censors continue to invoke.
Police Investigate German Historian for Hitler-Putin Meme
Germany’s law against Nazi symbolism "is being misused to silence people with dissenting views," Rainer Zitelmann tells Reason.
Three Students' Libel Lawsuit over Columbia "Doxing Truck" Can Go Forward
The students allege they weren't involved in the Oct. 11, 2023 Columbia student groups' letter that blamed Israel for the Oct. 7 attacks, and that labeling them ""Columbia's Leading Antisemites" based on that letter was therefore false and defamatory.
A First Amendment Right Not To Use AI for Evil?
Anthropic sues the federal government—and kicks off a debate about free speech for artificial intelligence systems.
First Amendment May Protect First-Grader's Giving Black Classmate "Black Lives Mater Any Life" Drawing
So holds a Ninth Circuit panel, though reinforcing the Ninth Circuit's view that allegedly "derogatory and injurious remarks," including political speech, "directed at students' minority status" can be punished.
Users Made Grok Post Offensive Soccer Jokes. Now the U.K. Wants To Censor It.
After users prompted Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok to generate "vulgar" posts, British officials warned X it could face penalties.
Philosophy Prof, Discussion of Adult-Child Sex Bans, and the First Amendment
SUNY Fredonia philosophy professor had been barred from campus over podcast questioning illegality and immorality of adult-child sexual contact; a federal court has just allowed his First Amendment claim to go forward.
Court Blocks Florida Gov. DeSantis's Executive Order Designating CAIR as Terrorist Organization
The order "prevents CAIR or 'any person known to have provided material support or resources' to CAIR 'from receiving any contract, employment, funds, or other benefit or privilege'" from Florida state or local governments.
Florida Legislators Advance a Bill Authorizing Government Surveillance Based on 'Views' or 'Opinions'
House and Senate committees were unfazed by the obvious First Amendment problems with the proposed Statewide Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Unit.
DOJ Briefly Abandons Trump's Unconstitutional Orders Targeting Law Firms
The administration's capricious behavior underlies the inherent problem with giving a single person so much power.
