Mastodon's Content-Moderation Growing Pains
[I asked Prof. Alan Rozenshtein (University of Minnesota) to write a post about Mastodon and one particular recent controversy related to it, and he very kindly agreed. -EV]
Free Speech
Magistrate Judge "Openly Scoffed" at Former Press Secretary Jen Psaki's "Efforts to Escape a Deposition"
"in a suit over alleged pressure on social media firms to censor posts on topics like Covid-19 vaccines and election fraud."
Crime to Publicize Man's DUI (with Insults) as Part of "Feud," "Intended to Shame and Provoke"
So holds the Pennsylvania intermediate appellate court, rejecting a First Amendment defense.
A Federal Court Blocks Florida's Stop WOKE Act. Again.
On Thursday, a federal court granted a preliminary injunction against the portion of the law applying to higher education, with one judge describing the law as "positively dystopian."
"Enforcing the First Amendment on Campus Won't, by Itself, Address the Problem of Academic Freedom"
"We also need to improve university culture."
Amusing Passage from Gateway Pundit's Motion for TRO to Get Press Credentials
"Meanwhile, if a tree falls in the forest and there is nobody there to hear it, everyone will still tell the public what it sounded like and what it means."
The ACLU Says California's Ban on COVID-19 'Misinformation' From Doctors Is Gratuitous and Unconstitutional
Two chapters of the organization say the law violates the First Amendment.
Defendant's "Cyber Campaign" "Was Multi-Faceted, Intricate and Extensive, Sly, Anonymous, and Horrible"
A court grants summary judgment in a #TheyLied case, after the defendant had stopped defending it, concluding that "Ms. Abid's refusal to litigate is purposeful and consistent with her malign, manipulative character shown in this record."
Mother Loses Custody of Daughters Partly Because She Talked to Them About Her Sex Life,
and because she left a sex toy where one of them could find it.
A Michigan Mayor Tried To Stop Constituents From Criticizing Her. Now, They're Suing.
Monique Owens shouted over critical speakers at a September city council meeting, claiming it was her "First Amendment right."
'A Pretty Scary Moment': Dissident Chinese Students Say George Washington University Is Failing Them
The CCP’s tyranny extends even to U.S. college campuses, where Chinese and Taiwanese students fear censorship.
Pseudonymity Allowed to Relatives Suing Grindr Over Minor's Suicide
The court cites the relatives' privacy interests, and in particular the risk of "harassment by the adults alleged to have committed sexual crimes against the decedent" (and who aren't named as defendants in the case).
Unconstitutional for Court to Threaten Suspending Custody Rights for "Any Further Unfounded Allegations" of Abuse
The order “could encompass speech ... that [the mother] believe[s] valid and substantiated even if CPS ultimately determines that [it is] not.”
Court: Students Can Have Statement Opposing Michigan Pro-Abortion-Rights Ballot Measure Read Over P/A System …
when the school generally allows other non-election-related but still political statements to be read, and is allowing an election-related pro-abortion-rights student walkout.
Elon Musk Owns Twitter, So the Rules Are Going To Be Whatever He Wants
If the bird site's new owner wants to protect free speech, he should focus on resisting government requests to remove content.
Lawsuits Keep Rolling Back Unconstitutional Vegan 'Meat' Bans
No one is confused about whether Tofurky is turkey.
This Professor Was Fired for Her Political Speech. Now, She's Getting Her Job Back.
Collin College fired Suzanne Jones in 2021, after she voiced support for union activity and the removal of Confederate monuments.
This Court Case Could Make It a Crime To Be a Journalist in Texas
Priscilla Villarreal found herself in a jail cell for publishing two routine stories. A federal court still can't decide what to do about that.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Claims Elon Musk Is Targeting Her Twitter Account
Plus: Congress remains too cautious about marijuana, myths about independent contractors, and more...
Section 230 Heads to the Supreme Court
The crucial protector of internet speech might have some cracks in its armor.
Doctors Say a California Law Targeting Clinicians Who Share COVID-19 'Misinformation' Is Unconstitutional
The law authorizes regulators to discipline physicians who deviate from the "contemporary scientific consensus."
Senator Dick Durbin Doesn't Understand the First Amendment
On Tuesday, the senator erroneously claimed that "free speech does not include spreading misinformation."
United States of America Pageants Has First Amendment Right To Exclude Transgender Women, Court Says
Plus: The emptiness of Democrats' pro-democracy rhetoric, the real reason Social Security checks are getting bigger, and more...
Livestream: Homeland Security's Backdoor Social Media Speech Regulation
Livestream with Nick Gillespie, Robby Soave, and Zach Weissmueller
Beauty Pageants Have First Amendment Right to Limit Contestants to "Natural Born Females"
So holds the Ninth Circuit; Hamilton plays a major role.
Andrew Doyle: How the 'New Puritans' Created a 'Frenzy of Conformity'
The journalist and comedian makes the case that "new puritans" espousing the religion of social justice have captured the Western world.
How Woke Mobs Ruined Everything and What To Do About It
Andrew Doyle on the "new puritans" and their godawful religion of social justice.
Should Rap Lyrics Qualify as Evidence in Criminal Trials?
The music industry objects to the use of rap lyrics by prosecutors.
