Eugene Volokh is the Thomas M. Siebel Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, and the Gary T. Schwartz Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus and Distinguished Research Professor at UCLA School of Law. Naturally, his posts here (like the opinions of the other bloggers) are his own, and not endorsed by any institution.
Eugene Volokh
Latest from Eugene Volokh
Journal of Free Speech Law: "How Local TV News Is Surviving Disruption as Newspapers Fail: Lessons Learned," by Prof. Laurie Thomas Lee
Just published as part of the symposium on Media and Society After Technological Disruption, edited by Profs. Justin "Gus" Hurwitz & Kyle Langvardt.
Journal of Free Speech Law: "Moderating the Fediverse: Content Moderation on Distributed Social Media," by Prof. Alan Rozenshtein
Just published as part of the symposium on Media and Society After Technological Disruption, edited by Profs. Justin "Gus" Hurwitz & Kyle Langvardt.
54% of Protestant Churches Rely in Part on Armed Church Members for Security
Only 20% rely on armed private security personnel, and 5% on uniformed police officers.
Court: Public School Likely May Ban Student from Wearing "There Are Only Two Genders" T-Shirt,
notwithstanding the First Amendment.
Lawyer's Affidavit in the Colorado AI-Hallucinated Precedent Case
"Overwhelmingly impressed by the technology, I excitedly used it to find case law that supports my client's position, or so I thought."
Journal of Free Speech Law: My "The Reverse Spider-Man Principle: With Great Responsibility Comes Great Power"
Just published as part of the symposium on Media and Society After Technological Disruption, edited by Profs. Justin "Gus" Hurwitz & Kyle Langvardt.
Colorado Lawyer "Says ChatGPT Created Fake Cases He Cited in Court Documents"
"I felt ... my efficiency ... could be exponentially augmented to the benefit of my clients by expediting the time-intensive research portion of drafting."
Journal of Free Speech Law: "Content Moderation in Practice," by Laura Edelson
Just published as part of the symposium on Media and Society After Technological Disruption, edited by Profs. Justin "Gus" Hurwitz & Kyle Langvardt.
Seattle Ordinance That Forbids, Among Other Things, Chalking Is Likely Unconstitutional
[UPDATE 5/19/24: This trial court decision has since been reversed by the Ninth Circuit.]
"Rewrite This Paper as if You Were Not Angry"
Good advice from Emily Chamlee-Wright, now the President of the Institute of Humane Studies and former professor, Associate Dean, and Provost.
Government Entity May Turn off All Comments on Its Social Media Page
It just can't limit such comments in a viewpoint-based way.
"Hamtramck Council Approves Banning LGBTQ+, Other Flags on City Property"
Actually, the resolution just dictates what flags may be flown on city flagpoles; and that, I think, is constitutionally permissible.
Armslist Not Liable for Hosting Gun Sale Ads That Led to Purchases by People Who Used the Guns Criminally
The Seventh Circuit so holds, applying Wisconsin tort law, and not reaching the 47 U.S.C. § 230 issue.
Journal of Free Speech Law: "Noisy Speech Externalities," by Prof. Gus Hurwitz
Just published as part of the symposium on Media and Society After Technological Disruption, edited by Profs. Justin "Gus" Hurwitz & Kyle Langvardt.
If Employee Is Fired for Off-the-Job Political Speech, Can He Be Denied Unemployment Compensation
on the grounds that the firing was for "misconduct" (such as violation of a social media policy)?
Journal of Free Speech Law: "Brokered Abuse," by Prof. Thomas Kadri
Just published as part of the symposium on Media and Society After Technological Disruption, edited by Profs. Justin "Gus" Hurwitz & Kyle Langvardt.
Allegations That Particular Conduct Stemmed from a Racist Motivation Generally Aren't Defamatory
(though false allegations about the details of the conduct may be).
Journal of Free Speech Law: "Privacy Rights, Internet Mug Shots, and a Right to Be Forgotten," by Prof. Amy Gajda
Just published as part of the symposium on Media and Society After Technological Disruption, edited by Profs. Justin "Gus" Hurwitz & Kyle Langvardt.
Private Employers May Not Fire Employees for Writing to the Legislature, Tennessee Court Holds
BlueCross BlueShield allegedly fired an employee for "email[ing] Tennessee state legislators with her concerns and grievances regarding vaccine mandates."
Journal of Free Speech Law: "Defamation, Disinformation, and the Press Function," by Prof. RonNell Andersen Jones
Just published as part of the symposium on Media and Society After Technological Disruption, edited by Profs. Justin "Gus" Hurwitz & Kyle Langvardt.
No Pseudonymity for Plaintiff in Medical Data Breach Case
"[A]n individual's name is not sensitive data in and of itself, and Plaintiff does not explain how publication of Plaintiff's name would place Plaintiff's data at further risk."
