First Amendment News

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net neutrality but granted the states the right to pass laws to protect consumers. Five states have passed laws to protect net neutrality, and 34 states have introduced laws. Congress has greater incentive now to pass a new law on net neutrality to bring order across the nation. (CNET, October 2, 2019, by Marguerite Reardon) The EFF is

Viewers of news on social media think that the internet companies have too much control over the news people see and are concerned about fake and one-sided news. according to a new study by the Pew Research center. The problem could be that the social media sites gear the news to the interests of the viewers rather than emphasizing accuracy. (Courthouse News Service, October 2, 2019, by Emilee Larkin) More Americans than ever look to

The October list from the One Free Press Coalition of the 10 most urgent cases of press freedom violations still has journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the top. Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi Arabia government, was murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. Although Khashoggi worked for the Washington Post, there has been no attempt by the Trump administration to seek justice in the case. The other journalists on the list

In response to what they claim is the social media company’s censorship of conservative voices, conservatives are forming the Free Speech Alliance to protect conservatives’ online free speech rights. The alliance concentrates their efforts on four issues, ensuring transparency, establishing clarity for “hate speech,” providing equal access for conservatives, and enforcing the First Amendment. (Media Research Center, September 30, 2019, by Allen B. West) Over 60 conservative organizations have joined the Free Speech Alliance. Media

A federal district judge slapped an injunction on a new South Dakota anti-rioting law intended to prevent protests of the Keystone XL pipeline. The ruling agreed with the American Civil Liberties Union that the law was vague and overbroad. (Courthouse News Service, September 18, 2019, by Levi Lass) The anti-rioting law failed to specify which actions were violations carrying civil or criminal penalties. The law also singled out people for “advising, encouraging, or soliciting” which