YouTube To Pay $24.5 Million To Settle Lawsuit Over Trump’s Account Suspension After Jan. 6 Attack
The settlement does not constitute an admission of liability, the filing says. Google confirmed the settlement but declined to comment beyond it.
YouTube To Start Bringing Back Creators Banned for COVID-19 and Election Misinformation
Attorneys for YouTube's parent company, Alphabet, said the decision to bring back banned accounts reflected the company’s commitment to free speech.
Supreme Court Allows Mississippi To Require Age Verification on Social Media Like Facebook and X
NetChoice argues that the Mississippi law threatens privacy rights and unconstitutionally restricts the free expression of users of all ages.
Former Wisconsin Chancellor Fired Over Porn Films Sues in Hopes of Teaching Again
He argues in his lawsuit that the firing from his professor position violated his free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Supreme Court Keeps on Hold Efforts in Texas, Florida To Regulate Social Media Platforms
The justices returned the cases to lower courts in challenges from trade associations for the companies, which claimed that the laws violated the platforms’ speech rights.
Key Takeaways of Supreme Court Oral Arguments in Gonzalez v. Google
During almost three hours of oral arguments Feb. 21, the U.S. Supreme Court discussed for the first time a case that questions Section 230 protections. The case looks at the liability of social media platforms and search engines regarding speech hosted on their sites, and if recommendation algorithms could be responsible for aiding terrorist activity.
Professor at a Public University Suspended for Profanity-Laden Video Sues for Free Speech Violations
A professor at a public university in Michigan was suspended with pay after posting a profanity-laced video to his incoming students. Professor Barry Mehler, a history professor at Ferris State University, posted the 14-minute long video that begins with him wearing an astronaut helmet over a face mask, and tells his students they are “vectors of disease,” and that “it is dangerous to breathe the air.”
Texas’ Social Media Law is Unconstitutional, Federal Court Rules
On December 1st, a federal court in Texas issued a preliminary injunction against Texas’ social media law, HB 20, for violating platforms’ First Amendment right to moderate the third-party content they disseminate. "HB 20 prohibits virtually all content moderation, the very tool that social media platforms employ to make their platforms safe, useful, and enjoyable for users," U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman wrote.