Civil Liberties
George Washington University Backpedals After Agreeing To Investigate Critics of China
"Upon full understanding, I do not view these posters as racist; they are political statements," said university president Mark Wrighton.
Artist Ai Weiwei Warns of Chinese and American Authoritarianism
In 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows, the renowned artist details his struggles with censorship.
Dear Olympics Media: Please Spare Us Your Fawning Over China's Digital Surveillance
Regarding the authoritarian country's central bank digital currency, you do not, under any circumstances, “gotta hand it to them.”
With "Friends" Like These ….
“After accepting a ‘friend’ request from the officer, the defendant published a video recording to his social media account that featured an individual seen from the chest down holding what appeared to be a firearm. The undercover officer made his own recording of the posting, which later was used in criminal proceedings against the defendant.” No Fourth Amendment violation, says Massachusetts high court.
Joe Rogan, Canadian Truckers, Coronavirus Mandates, and the Terrible State of Free Speech
What Joe Rogan and Canadian truckers tell us about free speech.
Always Glad to Get Pro Bono Court-Appointed Amicus Work
This may be especially helpful in cases involving sealing or pseudonymity, where the parties agree with each other but the public interest ought to be represented.
GoFundMe Rejects Fundraising for Canadian Freedom Convoy
Plus: Is Web3 a scam? Does the Joe Rogan/Spotify controversy have anything to do with Section 230? And more...
Biden's False Gun Claims Are a Lousy Basis for Law
Already abused for political purposes, the power of government shouldn’t be expanded based on lies.
Lawyer L. Lin Wood Enjoined from Violating Non-Disparagement Agreement
Enforcing that agreement isn’t an unconstitutional prior restraint, holds the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Amir Locke's Death Should Incense Anyone Who Cares About Gun Rights
The 22-year-old man was shot by a Minneapolis police officer during the execution of a no-knock warrant on which he was not named.
Court Rejects Pacira Biosciences' Trade Libel Claim Over Article in Leading Medical Journal About EXPAREL
"The peer-review process—not a courtroom—... provides the best mechanism for resolving scientific uncertainties."
A California Sheriff Remains Free To Rob Armored Cars Carrying Money From State-Licensed Marijuana Businesses
A federal judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order, saying the evidence of legal violations is insufficient at this point.
Should a Christian Group Be Allowed To Fly a Flag Outside Boston City Hall?
The Supreme Court will soon decide a case that tests the limits of expression on government property and religious toleration.
Palin Faces 'Uphill Battle' in Proving the Times Defamed Her
Plus: Mask mandates and omicron cases, purging "pornography" drives calls for book bans, and more...
D.C. Cops Conspired to Keep Records From Reporters, Activists, and Critics, Says Lawsuit
Defense lawyer Amy Phillips is suing over what she calls the department's "watchlist policy."
Americans Want Police Reform, Not Abolition. So Did This Slain NYPD Officer.
Despite a binary media narrative, the vast majority of the U.S. is in favor of quality, accountable policing.
Judge: Criticisms of Epoch Times Were Substantially True or Opinion, Not Libel
“Like it or not, news analysis is often delivered with plenty of English on the ball in service of an ideological agenda and market viability. Whether such practices contribute positively to delivering our species closer to the truth is a question for philosophers. It is not enough to support a defamation claim.”
U.K. Officials Want Even More Power To Punish You for Being Mean Online
A Scottish man was just convicted for tweeting an insult about a dead person. The authorities already have too much power to censor.
Thomas Calls for Reconsidering New York Times v. Sullivan
Well, it's Judge Bradford Thomas of the Florida Court of Appeal, but still an interesting synthesis of recent criticisms, with some extra analysis added.
Neil Young vs. Joe Rogan: Free Speech Wins
The scandal du jour reminds us that radical free speech is alive and well.
Virginia Republicans Vote Down Bill To Ban Police Use of Forged Evidence Documents During Interrogations
The bill was introduced in response to a state investigation that found police used fake forensic evidence during interrogations.
The Canadian Truckers Have a Point About Border Security Theater
Plus: National debt tops $30 trilion, Whoopi Goldberg suspended over Holocaust comments, and more...
Academic Freedom and Debate About Race-Based Appointments, Hiring, Admissions, Etc.
What do you think Georgetown faculty should be free to say in the public debate about such matters?
11th Circuit Says a Sheriff Violated the First Amendment by Posting Warning Signs on the Lawns of Registered Sex Offenders
Butts County, Georgia, Sheriff Gary Long cited no evidence to support his pre-Halloween stunt.
Magistrate Judge: Calling Police Officer "Pig," "Terrorist," "Punk Ass," and "Bitch" in Facebook Comments Is Obscene …
and unprotected by the First Amendment. An incorrect decision, it seems to me.
Georgetown Suspends Ilya Shapiro, Student Protesters Demand Place to Cry
More than 100 law professors agree that "academic freedom protects Shapiro's views."
The EARN IT Act Is Back. Here's What People Are Saying.
Plus: The #OldProProject, food truck police, and more...
Colorado State University Sign Directs Students 'Affected By a Free Speech Event' To Seek Help
"If you (or someone you know) are affected by a free speech event on campus, here are some resources..."
Extra Remedies for Libel if the Libeler Chose Target Based on Race, Religion, Sex, Etc.?
A lawsuit claims N.Y. law authorizes this; if it prevails, expect many more such claims in a wide range of libel cases.
The Campaign To Force Joe Rogan Off Spotify Is Already Backfiring
You're talking about him, aren't you?
San Jose's Insurance Requirement Is Privatized Gun Control
Politicians deputize the private sector to restrict rights protected from the government.
Limiting Yourself to 7% of the Potential Candidates …
is usually unlikely to yield the best candidate.
Hong Kong's Politicians and Cops Use Pandemic Justifications To Do Beijing's Bidding
What happens in places where the pandemic is a transparent guise for seizing more state power?
Dragging Out Protesters Disrupting City Council Meeting Isn't Excessive Force
The city was not "required to permit the 'organized lawlessness' conducted by the protestors."
Tennessee School Board Pulls Maus From Eighth-Grade Curriculum
A grim sign of the bureaucratic mentality controlling public education
My My, Hey Hey, Neil Young's Songs Are Here To Stay (Just Not on Spotify)
Three and a half lessons about Neil Young, Joe Rogan, Spotify, and our age of cultural plenitude
Whole Foods Fight Over Black Lives Matter Masks Pits National Labor Relations Board Against Free Speech
Should Whole Foods be allowed to stop staff from wearing Black Lives Matter masks on the job?
First Amendment Clearly Protects Student Encouraging Classmates to Negatively Evaluate Professor
The school told the student she was "restricted from discussing Dr. Lazorski with any student in the CHE 1800 course or any of Dr. Lazorski's classes."
Shooting the Guns You Can't (Realistically) Own at the Gun Industry's Range Day
If you want to own a machine gun, it's probably not going to happen anytime soon—even if you make a decent living and have never committed a crime.
PETA Sues for Its Free Speech Rights, Again
The Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland won't let the animal rights group advertise on public buses.
