First Amendment News

The Federal Communications Commission restored Obama-era net neutrality aimed by preventing broadband providers like Verizon or Comcast from blocking or slowing down service to competitors like Netflix or YouTube. The rules make broadband similar to a utility regulated like phones and water. Free speech advocates favor net neutrality as vital to preserving access to the internet. (The New York Times, April 25, 2024, by Cecilia Kang) Eva Dou in The Washington Post, April 25, 2024,

Reporters asking the hard questions covering Republicans on the campaign trail may now find their emails, names and even contact information posted online. The posts convey the message that the reporters are engaging in partisan sabotage. (NOTUS, April 25, by Evan McMorris-Santoro and Katherine Swartz)

States are fighting back against the tide of book bannings across the U.S. with Democratic-majority legislatures passing laws against bans. Minnesota is now considering a law and Washington, Illinois and Maryland have already passed laws. (The Associated Press, April 23, 2024, by Steve Karnowski and Mike Catalini) The Illinois law punishes public libraries for banning books for “partisan or doctrinal” reasons. To keep their eligibility for state funds, public libraries must adopt the American Library

The nation’s universities are taking a less tolerant view of disruptive protests and are suspending or expelling students. The schools are reacting to criticism by conservative alums and donors but also are moved by the realization that protests are so disruptive that they have a negative effect on learning. Administrators are clamping down in the face of criticism that their role is to foster debate no matter how contrary it gets. (The New York Times,

Steven Brill in Politico, April 1, 2024, writes that there are ways to clean up the social media without government censorship. The platforms already have contracts with users and lists of prohibited content, but they claim they cannot prevent the hate and false information because of the algorithms and volume of content. The FTC has the authority to protect consumers and could enforce the contracts by exacting hefty fines. For related FAC coverage, click here,