Reporter Sues Alameda County for Sideshow Law That Criminalizes Journalism
The law prevents Jose Fermoso of Oaklandside from covering sideshows as a newsworthy public safety issue, and is a violation of his First Amendment rights.
The law prevents Jose Fermoso of Oaklandside from covering sideshows as a newsworthy public safety issue, and is a violation of his First Amendment rights.
The U.S Supreme Court refused to hear a case determining if a student can sue Snapchat for its role in sexual abuse by a teacher. The company’s lawyers told the court, ““Snapchat is no more responsible for the teacher’s criminal acts than the phone company that hosted her text messages to petitioner or the car that drove the teacher to school.” (USA TODAY, July 2, 2024 by Maureen Groppe) A 36-year-old teacher, now serving a
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that social media platforms are like traditional publishers and therefore entitled to First Amendment protections in moderating content. Texas and Florida passed laws regulating content moderation of social media companies out of concern that the platforms were restricting conservative viewpoints, but the court stated “the government cannot get its way just by asserting an interest in better balancing the marketplace of ideas.” (The Verge, July 1, 2024, by Lauren Feiner)
The U.S. Supreme Court gave new life to a lawsuit brought by a Texas woman against a town council that arrested her after she criticized an official. The court ruled 8-1 to send the case back a a lower court. She was arrested for taking a government document but the charges were dropped. She said she had not intended to take the document. (NBC News, June 20, 2024, by Lawrence Hurley)
The Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals allowed teachers to put up Black Lives Matter posters in classrooms but denied members of the public to display posters such as All Lives Matter. Whether the decision satisfies the First Amendment depends on whether the speech “Black Lives Matter” is private speech or government speech, a matter yet to be determined. (Reason, June 26, 2024, by Eugene Volokh) For related FAC coverage, click here and here. For