The Campaign Against 'Extremism' Looks Like an Attack on Speech
Efforts against violence are turning into restrictions on ideas.
Free Speech
Facebook Will Now Ban Criticism of "Concepts, Institutions, Ideas, Practices, or Beliefs" When They Risk "Harm, Intimidation, or Discrimination" Against Religious, National, or Other Groups
This includes "burning a national flag or religious texts, caricatures of religious figures, or criticism of ideologies."
Tennessee Woman Sues State Officials for Revoking Her '69' Vanity Plate
Nashville’s Leah Gilliam says her vanity plate is protected by the First Amendment.
Economic Power Being Leveraged to Control Political Discourse
I'm serializing my new Social Media Platforms as Common Carriers? article, forthcoming in the Journal of Free Speech Law.
Social Media Platforms as Common Carriers?
I finally have a presentable draft of this article, forthcoming in the Journal of Free Speech Law; I'll be posting excerpts over the next couple of weeks.
Is NYT v. Sullivan the Real Problem with Libel Law? (Updated)
Glenn Reynolds suggests it's how that landmark decision was applied and expanded that has created the real problem.
Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court's Most Conservative Justice, Trashes Qualified Immunity Again
The Court has "failed to justify our enacted policy," he wrote.
SCOTUS Rules That California Violated the First Amendment by Routinely Demanding Donor Information From Advocacy Groups
Six justices agreed that the state's "dragnet for sensitive donor information" imposes "a widespread burden on donors' associational rights."
Journal of Free Speech Law Call For Papers: Symposium on the Freedom of Association and Disclosure Requirements
We'll be ready to publish articles on this subject as early as September, if you submit them by August 1.
S. Ct. Strikes Down California Requirement that Charitable Organizations Disclose Major Donors to State AG
"The gravity of the privacy concerns in this [case] is further underscored by the [amicus briefs supporting the challenge].... [T]hese organizations span the ideological spectrum ...: from the [ACLU] to the Proposition 8 Legal Defense Fund; from the Council on American-Islamic Relations to the Zionist Organization of America; from Feeding America—Eastern Wisconsin to PBS Reno."
Florida's Social Media Bill Was Supposed To Protect 'Free Speech.' A Judge Says It Violates the First Amendment.
Plus: How Trump lost in 2020, Amazon seeks recusal of FTC chair, and more...
Assignments Aimed at "Requiring a Statement" of Ideological Belief from Students May Violate First Amendment
So holds a Fifth Circuit panel (by a 2-to-1 vote), in an assignment requiring the writing of the Pledge of Allegiance, but the same argument would apply, I think, to compelled statements of other ideologies, whether related to patriotism, race, sex, sexual orientation, or anything else.
Lawsuit Over Nieman Journalism Lab (at Harvard) Outing Commenter Can Go Forward
The plaintiff is Francesca Viola, who wrote the comment when she was a journalism professor at Temple University.
Court Refuses Jail Guard's Request to Seal Civil Lawsuit Brought Against Him by Prisoner
"Bartolotti alleges that 'anytime you search [his] name on [the internet, he is] affiliated with this case,' which 'has affected [his] personal and professional lives [and] has become a safety issue at times as well.'"
Interpreting 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(2)
The statute immunizes computer services for "action voluntarily taken in good faith to restrict ... availability of material that the provider ... considers to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected"—but what exactly does that mean?
New York Appeals Court Catalogs Rudy Giuliani's Election Lies As It Suspends His License to Practice Law
The suspension is based on "demonstrably false and misleading statements" that Giuliani made as Donald Trump's lawyer.
Fifth Circuit Certifies Questions in Doe v. Mckesson to Louisiana Supreme Court
This is the case against DeRay Mckesson, brought by a police officer who was injured in a protest that Mckesson allegedly organized.
Florida's College Intellectual Diversity Survey Is Good, Actually
No, it’s not an attempt to monitor faculty and student views. It’s an attempt to make sure they’re allowed to express them.
Trigger Warning Now Counts as Violent Language at Brandeis University
A way of warning someone they might feel offended is itself offensive?
Hong Kong's Free Press Is Dying
After Chinese authorities conducted newsroom raids and arrested top editors, pro-democracy publication Apple Daily realized it could no longer safely operate.
Does a New Florida Law Require State Universities to Monitor Faculty and Student Beliefs? (Updated)
Why is straight reporting on educational reform measures so difficult.
Journal of Free Speech Law Call For Papers: Symposium on the First Amendment and Student Speech
We'll be ready to publish articles on this subject as early as September, if you submit them by August 1.
High School Cheerleader's Profane Social Media Rant Is Protected Free Speech, Says SCOTUS
First Amendment advocates prevailed in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.
Man Arrested for Public Signs Wins Settlement From Sheriff's Office and Spurs Reform
Holding a sign in a public park should not cause an arrest.
Supreme Court Protects Students' "Political or Religious Speech" Outside School
The Court doesn't set forth a categorical rule protecting such speech, but strongly suggests that such speech is normally protected by the First Amendment—and defines political speech broadly, to include criticism (even vulgar criticism) of school programs and officials.
GB News Stands Up to U.K. Cancel Culture and Wins
Advertisers found that appeasing an illiberal mob wasn’t a safe choice after all.
Tim Wu, Biden's New Tech Guru, Is Deeply Wrong About What Makes the Internet Great
In many professional arenas, Wu's swings and misses would have consequences. In Wu's case, it landed him an advisory role in the Biden administration.
Is Microsoft 'Out To Get Conservatives'? And Is That Jim Jordan's Business?
Plus: Biden to back bill ending crack/cocaine sentencing disparity, the truth about tech startup creation, and more...
Colorado Court Slaps Baker With Fine for Refusing To Make Gender Transition Cake
Plus: Georgia's voting roll purge draws media hype, Florida's drug law hypocrisy, and more...
Government Action and Constitutional Rights
When (1) states seek to protect abortion rights / gun rights / speech rights against private restriction, and (2) Congress seeks to encourage such private restrictions by preempting the state law protections, might such federal preemption violate the Constitution?
States Move To Force Sports Teams To Play the National Anthem
Three states have advanced constitutionally questionable laws.
Retired Engineer Offers Free Expert Testimony for Flood Victims. Licensing Officials Threaten Him With Criminal Charges.
Wayne Nutt worked as an engineer for decades. But because he's not licensed, North Carolina's engineering board says that he can't share his expertise in public.
