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Freedom of Speech/Press News

Federal judge rules ‘Dirty’ website not libel for inflamatory comments

donal brown June 7, 2011

Even though the operator of the Dirty World website made derogatory comments about a woman, a federal judge in Arizona ruled that the site is not liable for invasion of privacy. The judge applied Missouri privacy law since the woman resided there reasoned that there was no valid claim for public disclosure of private facts because Dirty World LLC did not reveal any private truths since the comments were fabrications according to the woman. -db

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California court rules talk show commentator shielded from libel under fair report privilege

donal brown June 7, 2011

A California court of appeals ruled that when a talk show commentator reported that a former high school principal used school resources to sell ads for a gay magazine, he was exempt from libel charges under a state laws that protects journalists reporting on government matters. The former principal had had earlier lost a ruling in trial court on his claim under the anti-SLAPP law. The appeals court also found that the principal was a

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Republicans demand end to ads alleging Republican plan ends Medicare

donal brown June 6, 2011

The Republican national committee is demanding that Comcast Boston take down ads claiming that a Republican plan would end Medicare. The charge is expected to play a major role for the Democrats in the 2012 election. Republicans say the ad is “blatantly and wholly false” and designed to scare voters. The ad’s defenders say that the Republican plan would not fully cover health care insurance premiums requiring seniors to purchase private coverage, in effect ending

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North Carolina college bans student from graduation for negative Facebook post

donal brown June 6, 2011

Saint Augustine’s college has banned a student from graduation ceremonies after the student posted comments on Facebook critical about how the college was handling its recovery from a tornado. FIRE claims that in the absence of a policy sanctioning the punishment, the college improvised by declaring that a Facebook post challenging their decisions could keep a student from graduation ceremonies. The college said students had an obligation to protect the reputation of the college. -db

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Court rules no free speech right in dropping local jurisdictions

donal brown June 6, 2011

A  federal court said the Girl Scouts could not invoke the First Amendment to eliminate local councils. The Scouts had claimed First Amendment protection in eliminating local councils to promote diversity. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Scouts had not demonstrated they were committed to diversity and rather than promote it by eliminating local councils could simply increase recruitment of girls from diverse backgrounds. -db From the First Amendment Center, June

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