First Amendment News

Google is developing an AI tool to write news stories and has pitched it to the Times, Post and Wall Street Journal. Google said the AI tools would not replace journalists who report and fact-check but rather free up their time by writing headlines and providing news content based on details of current events. (The New York Times, July 19, 2023, by Benjamin Mullin and Nico Grant) Executive at the Times were concerned that the

The D.C U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the law allowing states and victims to fight online sex trafficking. Challenges to the law maintained that part of the law criminalized speech that would provide such services as health and safety information to sex workers, advocating for particular workers and decriminalization. But the court said the act targets conduct rather than speech, illegal activity as it pertains, in the court’s words, “to a person’s intent to aid

The Associated Press signed a deal with the artificial intelligence firm OpenAI to share news content and technology. AP does not now use generative AI in reporting the news but wants to use AI to improve its output. (Axios, July 13, 2023, by Sara Fischer) OpenAI is also committing $5 million in a deal with the American Journalism Project to help local news outlets to experiment in using artificial intelligence technology in reporting. (Axios, July

Ray Epps, a former Arizona businessman, is suing Fox News for spreading lies that he was at the January 6 insurrection as a covert FBI agent to foment the attack on Congress. Epps says he was at the Capitol that day because of Fox’s claim of fraud in the 2020 presidential election. A check of the facts shows that Epps has a strong case. (Poynter, July 18, 2023, by Jeff Cercone) Epp’s lawsuit notes that

Forces to fight election lies on the internet are shrinking as the 2024 presidential election looms. Artificial intelligence poses a real threat, allowing users to fake videos, photos and ads. Social media companies are cutting their content moderation staff, and conservative politicians are pressuring researchers who study internet lies. The recent injunction by a Texas federal judge weakens the federal government’s efforts to get accurate voting information out and fighting false rumors about the election.