Nonprofit Sues University of Illinois Over “Unconstitutional” Student Policies
Speech First, a conservative legal organization, sued the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign over its free speech policies. The group objects to the University’s position on political pamphlets, its bias reporting system, and its no-contact policy for students accused of bias. “On a regular basis, the University of Illinois sends a clear message to students who wish to engage in political and religious speech: there are some views that are welcome, and others that are not," Speech First President Nicole Neily said in a statement. "Students deserve to be able to express themselves and voice their opinions without fear of investigation or punishment – which is why these policies must be reformed.”
San Francisco Police Chief Apologizes For Raid On Journalist’s Home and Office
Police raided the home and office of a San Francisco freelance videographer in connection with an investigation over a leaked police report. The freelancer, Bryan Carmody, had received the leaked report which included salacious details of the events surrounding the sudden death of San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi. First Amendment advocates contend that the search violates California Shield Law.
Iowa Man Sues County Sheriff’s Department for Free Speech Violations
The ACLU is suing an Iowa county’s sheriff’s department on behalf of a man who says his First Amendment rights were violated when he was charged with criminal harassment after he posted negative comments about a police officer’s conduct.
Hate Speech on Social Media: Is There a Way to a More Civil Discussion?
First Amendment Watch and ConSource, a leading site that encourages discussion of the U.S. Constitution, hosted a panel discussion entitled, “Hate Speech on Social Media: Is There a Way to […]
Pro-Gun Activists Sue Texas Politician Who Blocked Them On Facebook
The founders of a pro-gun rights group that was blocked by a state politician on social media filed a lawsuit in U. S. District Court for the Western District in […]
Illinois Supreme Court Rules That Revenge Porn Is Not Protected by the First Amendment
The Illinois Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s ruling that a state law which criminalized “revenge porn” was an unconstitutional restriction on the right to free speech. The case involves a woman, Bethany Austen, who was charged with a felony after she circulated nude images of a neighbor who was having an affair with her then-boyfriend.
New Survey on Free Expression On College Campuses Reveals Gender, Race, And Religion Divisions
The Knight Foundation released a new report, “Free Expression on College Campuses,” that examines students’ views on topic like hate speech and inclusion. In conjunction with College Pulse, a mobile-first […]
White House Refuses to Endorse Christchurch Call, citing Free Speech Concerns
In the wake of the deadly mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, the country’s Prime Minister is leading an effort to stamp out extremism online. The “Christchurch Call” asks for “collective, voluntary commitments" from governments and online service providers to stop the spread of extremism. The non-binding doctrine has been signed by 18 countries, including France and Canada, and by five tech companies, including Facebook, Twitter, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. The Trump administration, however, declined to sign the Christchurch Call, citing free speech concerns.