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.

Facebook Bans Alex Jones and Other Controversial Figures for Promoting Hate Speech and Violence

Facebook is banning some controversial, well-known figures for violating the social media giant’s policies on hate speech and promoting violence. The list includes Sandy Hook-denier Alex Jones, right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, conspiracy theorists Laura Loomer and Paul John Watson, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who promotes anti-Semitic views, and Paul Nehlen, a white nationalist who ran for Congress in 2018.

Supreme Court Hears Trademark Case Centered On A Seemingly Offensive Word

The Supreme Court is weighing whether the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office acted unconstitutionally when it denied granting a trademark to a clothing line called “FUCT.” The case was brought by […]

Clear and Present Danger: Episode 22: Fighting Words – Free Speech in 18th Century America, Part II

Clear and Present Danger: A History of Free Speech is a podcast hosted by Jacob Mchangama, the founder and executive director of Justitia, a think tank focusing on human rights. […]

Nazi Salute in Photo is Protected by the First Amendment, Baraboo School District Says

Wisconsin high school students went unpunished for appearing in a pre-prom photo in what seems to be a Nazi salute. School administrators say they are protected by the First Amendment. What are the students rights to free speech?

Lawsuit Against Neo-Nazi Cannot Be Dismissed on 1st Amendment Grounds

Chief Judge Dana L. Christensen See also: Neo-Nazi Publisher, Andrew Anglin, Found Liable for International Infliction of Emotional Distress U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen will allow a lawsuit to proceed against […]

War of Words: Alex Jones Removed, Banned From Major Content Platforms

Alex Jones and InfoWars Twitter accounts have been permanently removed from the platform following a live-streamed confrontation on Periscope between CNN's Oliver Darcy and Alex Jones on Capital Hill, where Jones ranted at Darcy and about Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey who was on the Hill for congressional hearings. Twitter cited a violation of their abusive behavior policy as the reason for the move.

Is The ACLU Retreating On Free Speech? The Controversy and Debate

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-partisan civil rights organization, has recently been criticized for allegedly retreating from their stance on free expression, as a result of a leaked […]