Free Speech
Florida Seeking to Redefine Sex Censorship Language
The Republican-run state government of Florida is stepping up efforts to redefine legal and policy terminology in a campaign to censor free speech concerning sexuality.
UK's Online Safety Bill Remains Mired in Conceptual Chaos
The Tory government led by Rishi Sunak has reintroduced the Online Safety Bill, which has now been amended to remove some of the language that would have forced platforms to censor content the government termed “legal but harmful.”
Woodhull Files New Reply Brief Challenging FOSTA
Woodhull Freedom Foundation has filed a reply brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the latest action in the organization's four-year legal battle to have FOSTA-SESTA declared unconstitutional.
5th Circuit Upholds Texas' Controversial Online Platform Liability Law
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld a controversial Texas law prohibiting social media platforms from “censoring speech based on the viewpoint of its speaker,” in a decision that ignored long-standing precedent that First Amendment protections prohibit only censorship by the government, not by private companies.
9th Circuit Hears Arguments in Backpage.com Appeal
Attorneys for the former owners of Backpage.com and for the federal government presented arguments this morning before a three-judge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel, in the defendants' appeal of a lower court's denial to dismiss the case.
California Passes Controversial Age Verification Bill Drafted by British Baroness
The California legislature on Tuesday passed a highly controversial bill mandating sweeping yet vague age verification measures for any web site “likely to be accessed by children,” now waiting to be signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Free Speech Coalition Launches OnlyFans Page
Free Speech Coalition has launched an OnlyFans page to connect with creators who may not be aligned with the traditional adult industry.
UK Prime Minister Front-Runner Liz Truss Endorses Imaginary '2-Track' Internet
U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the current leading Conservative Party candidate to succeed resigning Prime Minister Boris Johnson, recently expressed support for the controversial Online Safety Bill with a mystifying statement about an imaginary “two-track internet,” described by observers as “one for teens and one that protects adult free speech.”
Utah Board of Education Adopts Guidelines for How to Ban 'Pornographic' Material
The Utah State Board of Education has approved official guidelines for how to ban books and other material from school libraries, amidst a moral panic stoked by religiously inspired activists seeking to cleanse education of “pornography.”
Sen. Ron Wyden, Author of Section 230, Vows to 'Fight Like Hell' to Protect It
In response to a Wired article published today warning that Section 230 is a “last line of defense for abortion speech online,” the law’s co-author Sen. Ron Wyden vowed to “keep fighting like hell" to protect it.
Arizona Republican Paul Gosar Questions Free Speech Status of Porn
Arizona Republican congressman Paul Gosar made comments on social media Wednesday questioning longstanding jurisprudence protecting sexual expression as free speech under the First Amendment.
Free Speech Coalition Launches 'What FSC Does' Campaign
Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has rolled out a promo campaign designed to better educate the adult community about FSC's services and advocacy work.
Louisiana's Anti-Porn 'Age Verification' Bill Spawns Free Speech Concerns
Reports of a novel proposed Louisiana bill that would allow any state resident to sue any company for failing to implement age verification to prevent minors from accessing “pornography” have already prompted concerns about the religious conservatives’ use of state-level "lawfare" to undermine the landmark Reno v. ACLU Supreme Court decision.
DC Court Upholds FOSTA-SESTA, Rejects Free-Speech Challenge
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejected a legal challenge to FOSTA-SESTA presented by First Amendment and free speech advocates, ruling that the U.S. government can continue enforcing the controversial legislation.
Free Speech Coalition to Host Town Hall About EARN IT Act
Free Speech Coalition (FSC) will host a town hall discussion this Thursday addressing the EARN IT Act, which recently passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is potentially headed toward a full vote in the Senate.
Texas Governor Calls for Criminal Prosecution Over 'Pornographic' Books in School Libraries
Texas Governor Greg Abbott today sent a second letter to state education authorities claiming minors “have been exposed to pornographic books and content in Texas public schools” and instructing the Texas Education Agency to “investigate any criminal activity in our public schools involving the availability of pornography.”
House Dems Introduce Bill to Further Erode Section 230 Over 'Harmful Content'
Four House Democrats introduced yet another Section 230 reform bill last week, titled the “Justice Against Malicious Algorithms Act.”
Tokyo Valentino Run Out of Georgia City by Local Officials
The East Cobb, Georgia location of Tokyo Valentino is now shuttered and sports a “For Lease” sign, sealing the practical victory of local officials — who oppose “sexually oriented businesses” in the Atlanta-area city — over the adult boutique that dared open in their midst.
Kenya Moves One Step Closer to Total Ban on Porn
The parliamentary ICT committee of Kenya’s National Assembly has approved a controversial amendment to the country’s 2018 “Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act” (CMCA), which now will include a blanket ban on all “pornography,” declaring it a “vice.”
New Report: Asia Leads 'Concerning' Global Trend Towards Internet Censorship
China, North Korea, Iran and several other nations on the Asian continent lead the global trend towards increased censorship of internet content — including blanket bans on “pornography” — according to a new study by cybersecurity research firm Comparitech titled, “Internet Censorship 2021: A Global Map of Internet Restrictions."