Opinion: Entertainers exercising free speech rights should not be punished

The public should be consistent in supporting the free speech rights of entertainers, writes Ken Paulson for the First Amendment Center. “There’s a tendency to defend the free speech of those whose views we share, while condemning the abrasive comments of those on the other side. Too often we let politics trump principles,” says Paulson. [...]

New Pentagon policy favors ‘presumption in favor of disclosure’

The Defense Department has revised its policy regarding the Freedom of Information Act to include the “presumption in favor of disclosure”. The change is to promote  transparency and accountability involving the FOIA with prompt response to requests. Despite President Barack Obama’s early assurances that transparency would be a priority, the White House has come under [...]

California: State Supreme Court rules law against threats constitutional within certain bounds

The California Supreme Court ruled that state laws banning threats against crime victims or witnesses are constitutional so long as in the words of the ruling,  a “reasonable listener” would understand [the threat] as “a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence, rather than an expression of jest or frustration.” [...]

Whistleblower gets probation in espionage case

Charged with espionage for leaking classified information to a reporter concerning contracts let by the National Security Agency that he felt wasted taxpayers’ money, Thomas Drake agreed to a plea deal of one-year on probation and 240 hours of community service. The federal judge presiding over the case criticized the government for retreating on the [...]

Obama to hold first Twitter town hall this week

President Barack Obama will hold a Twitter town hall at 2 p.m. EST on July 6 by answering questions on his Twitter account submitted by Twitter users. From The Washington Post, July 1, 2011, by Hayley Tsukayama. Full story

China trip: Obama’s call for greater Internet freedom gets mixed reception

Chinese citizens were glad to hear U.S. President Barack Obama’s support for greater Internet freedom in China but were skeptical about the impact of his comments. The Chinese government censored the comments on the official news agency and deleted them from Web sites. -DB Radio Free Asia November 17, 2009 SHANGHAI — Chinese Internet users [...]