Why Johnny Depp Is Suing Amber Heard in Virginia
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor is taking advantage of the state's lax laws that make it easier to file frivolous lawsuits intended to quell speech.
Free Speech
Are Newsletters the Future of Free Speech?
Substack's Hamish McKenzie on censorship, discourse, and Joe Rogan.
Calling Police Officer "Pig," "Terrorist," "Punk Ass," and "Bitch" in Facebook Comments Not Obscene After All
So a federal district court held, reversing an earlier magistrate judge ruling on this point; the court also rejected the view that the Free Press Clause only protects "members of the press."
The New Campaign for a Sex-Free Internet
Sex, money, and the future of online free speech
It's Not 'Bullying' To Satirize a Student Organization
When a college sophomore mocked Young Americans for Freedom for its stance on trans athletes, the conservative group ran to the university to file a complaint.
"Should We Regulate Foreign Speech?"
Some thoughts for me responding to Rick Hasen's, in a Balkinization symposium on Rick's new book, "Cheap Speech: How Disinformation Poisons Our Politics—and How to Cure It"
German States Will Prosecute Speech That Supports the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Several German states have announced they will prosecute those who publicly display the letter Z in support of Russia.
Fresno Bans Journalists—and Everyone Else—From Filming Cops Clearing Out Homeless Camps
The ACLU of Northern California is suing to overturn the ordinance.
Elon Musk's Twitter Stake Is Promising, but Not a Permanent Fix for Free Speech
Protections for open communication require more than the commitment of a single person.
Viktor Orbán's Reelection Shows Mere Democracy Is Not Enough
The less of our lives we allow to be put to a vote, the better.
Republicans Taking Aim at Disney Is a Reminder That Both Parties Are Hostile to Free Speech
For most of the past decade-plus, those complaining the loudest about corporate participation in politics have been Democrats.
Elon Musk Buys 9.2% of Twitter, Mysteriously Polls Users About State of Free Speech
A regulatory filing indicates that Musk is now the company's largest shareholder.
Now There's a Trademark Issue for You
"They should be paying us for burnishment—not suing us for tarnishment."
Two Illiberal and Unjust Zelensky Policies the West Should Force Him to End
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is leading his nation a just cause. But we should not allow him to impose censorship and emigration bans in the process. A nation fighting for freedom must not undermine it.
Lawyer Gets Harassment Restraining Order Against Ex-Clients Based on (Among Other Things) Online Criticism
No, says the Appeals Court of Massachusetts: "We take this opportunity to reiterate that, where a c. 258E order is sought on the basis of speech alone, the plaintiff must prove that the speech rose to the level of true threats or fighting words and not merely that it was 'harassing, intimidating, or abusive in the colloquial sense.'"
A Federal Judge Says a Victim of Retaliatory Prosecution Can Sue a Cop Who Treated Criticism As a Crime
An Arkansas police officer used trumped-up charges to punish a man who criticized him for violating the Constitution.
Veggie 'Meat' Maker Tofurky Wins Free Speech Challenge to Food-Labeling Law
Plus: Meta's campaign to smear TikTok, new research on immigrants and welfare, and more...
Trial Court Focused Too Much on Racial Slurs by Defendant Towards Police Officers
So holds the California Court of Appeal, in sending back to a different judge defendant's motion to retroactively downgrade her conviction (for non-slur resistance to the officers) to a misdemeanor.
Want To Stop School Book Battles? Give Parents Real Choice in Education
State-level "gag orders" on teaching certain texts and ideas are terrible and utterly predictable in a one-size-fits-all K-12 educational system.
Police Officer Gets Critic Prosecuted for "Harassment," Based on Critical Online Posts
Now the critic's First Amendment lawsuit over this (and other matters) can go forward.
From Yale Law's Dean on the March 10 Protest
"This is an institution of higher learning, not a town square, and no one should interfere with others' efforts to carry on activities on campus. YLS is a professional school, and this is not how lawyers interact."
Will Smith Reminds Us Why Words Should Not Be Equivalent to Violence
A wake-up call for the woke
Be Like Chris Rock
The comedian won last night's Oscars by telling bad jokes, dealing with the consequences, refusing to escalate or apologize, and doing his damn job.
Supreme Court Reminds Us That the Best Answer to Unwanted Speech Is More Speech
Plus: On tipping and slavery, cities see population declines, and more...
Hearing Mike Pence Speak Won't Harm UVA Students
The editorial board of UVA's The Cavalier Daily should abandon its effort to keep Mike Pence off campus.
"Bullying and Harassing Behavior Are Prohibited on Social Media Platforms," Says Alaska Senate Bill
What counts as "bullying and harassing" behavior, you might ask? The bill doesn't say.
Elected Body's Censure of Member for His Speech Doesn't Violate First Amendment, but
censure of government employees, students, professionals, and others might.
Crime to Send Certain "Crude, Vulgar, and Degrading" Sexual Jokes to 16-/17-Year-Olds in Indiana
But it's just fine to have sex with them.
"Cancel Culture … Is Inconsistent with the Philosophy of Open, Political Debate"
“[I]t undermines and stifles First Amendment privileges,” says a federal court, defining “cancel culture” as “the phenomenon of aggressively targeting individuals or groups, whose views aggressors deem unacceptable, in an effort to destroy them personally and/or professionally.”
