Free speech: Online postings change the terrain in defamation cases adding new perils

John Sharkey writing for the Citizen Media Law Project writes a real danger looms as courts deciding defamation cases concerning online postings are asked to issue injunctions restricting speech, a type of prior restraint that could be a substantial threat to the First Amendment. Sharkey says, “Even if we limit injunctive relief strictly to jury [...]

EFF: Federal law on adult photography poses threat to free speech

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is joining with other free expression advocates in a legal challenge to the federal criminal law that requires anyone producing a visual depiction of sexually explicit expression to maintain extensive records including copies of drivers’ licenses, home addresses, etc. -db Electronic Frontier Foundation Press Release March 5th, 2010 SAN FRANCISCO – [...]

Online postings provide challenge for public during health care debate

Opponents of the Obama administration’s health plan are posting online articles that claim to present details of the health plan. But the government’s concerns about the public’s inability to discern the inaccuracies in the postings may be overblown, writes one law student. -DB SuffolkMediaLaw.com Media and Communications Law Society Commentary August 4, 2009 By Denise Ouellet [...]

A&A: Public Universities, Listservs, and Destruction of Records

Q: Our local, university-run public radio station, has been attempting to create a “confidentiality policy” to prevent entries in its online volunteer listserv from appearing in the newspaper. Because I believe the taxpayer-funded listserv content is a public document, I filed a PRA request for one day’s worth of postings. The university has replied that [...]