Topic: first amendment
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Sen. Ed Markey: TikTok, the FCC, and Free Speech
Senator Ed Markey warns of a systematic effort to weaponize the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to censor media and intimidate broadcasters, creating a chilling effect that undermines First Amendment protections. He criticizes the opaque and selective enforcement of the TikTok ban, sugges...
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Republicans Honor Charlie Kirk by Challenging First Amendment
Recent events have placed the Republican Party in a contradictory position regarding free speech, as some members advocate for measures against hate speech following the death of commentator Charlie Kirk, conflicting with traditional conservative support for expansive speech freedoms. Prominent f...
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Texas App Store Age Verification Law Blocked by Judge
A federal judge has blocked a Texas law requiring app stores to verify user ages, issuing a preliminary injunction and indicating the law likely violates First Amendment free speech protections. The law, part of a novel state legislative model, would have made app stores like Apple's and Google's...
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NetChoice Sues Virginia Over Kids' Social Media Time Limit
NetChoice is suing Virginia over a new law that would limit minors' social media use to one hour per day, arguing it unconstitutionally restricts free speech for all residents. The law, set to take effect in 2026, requires social media platforms to block users under 16 from exceeding the daily li...
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Unions Fight Trump's Plan to Deport Immigrants Over Social Media
A coalition of labor unions, represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, is suing the Trump administration over a policy that uses AI to scan immigrants' social media for visa revocation, arguing it unlawfully suppresses free speech for both noncitizens and U.S. citizens. The policy has le...
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Trump's YouTube Ballroom Deal: How He Made Them Pay
YouTube settled a $24.5 million lawsuit with Donald Trump and allied MAGA channels over alleged First Amendment violations, without admitting wrongdoing, despite legal experts deeming the case meritless. Trump directed $22 million of the settlement to fund a new White House ballroom project, with...
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Inside Charlie Kirk's Memorial Service at a Megachurch
The memorial for Charlie Kirk framed his death as a religious sacrifice, blending grief with political messaging to secure evangelical Christian support, though the event's tone shifted when Trump's speech on animosity contrasted with earlier themes of forgiveness. Political actions included prop...
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Trump's Draft Order Challenges State AI Regulations
The Trump administration is preparing an executive order to centralize AI governance by legally challenging state AI regulations that conflict with federal statutes, particularly those protecting free speech and interstate commerce. An "AI Litigation Task Force" would be established to sue states...
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Republican Purge: The Political Reckoning Has Just Begun
The shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sparked a fierce debate over free speech and led to retaliatory actions, including demands for bans and dismissals based on public comments about the incident. Government officials, including former President Trump, have applied pressure on m...
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Kids' Safety Bill Poison Pilled, Supporters Allege
A major House committee effort to create a federal child online safety framework by bundling 19 bills has stalled, facing criticism for weakening core provisions like the Kids Online Safety Act's (KOSA) "duty of care" mandate. The revised House version replaces the duty of care with a broad preem...
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Lawmakers Propose Letting Users Sue Over Harmful Social Media Algorithms
The Algorithm Accountability Act, introduced by Senators Curtis and Kelly, would create a legal "duty of care" for large social media platforms, making them liable for physical harm caused by their recommendation algorithms and carving out an exception to Section 230 protections. The legislation ...
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Republicans Vow Censorship Crackdown After Charlie Kirk's Death
Following the fatal shooting of activist Charlie Kirk, Republican leaders, including Donald Trump, have threatened government action against individuals who celebrated or criticized Kirk online, despite First Amendment protections. The State Department announced potential visa restrictions for fo...
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App Store ID Check: What You Need to Know
The focus for online age verification is shifting to app stores like Apple's and Google's, aiming to centralize responsibility on these gatekeepers rather than individual app developers. App stores are targeted as a strategic choke point because they are centralized marketplaces, making age check...
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Congress Pushes National Internet Age Verification Law
A new legislative strategy is shifting the responsibility for online child safety from individual apps to mobile app stores, requiring them to verify user age and share that data with downloaded applications. The proposed federal App Store Accountability Act has gained bipartisan and industry sup...
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Kimmel Rips FCC Chair Brendan Carr in Fiery TV Return
Jimmy Kimmel returned to his show by confronting FCC Chair Brendan Carr, framing his removal as an illegal and authoritarian threat to free speech that contradicts American values. He criticized the government's regulatory overreach, comparing Carr's tactics to mob behavior and questioning the co...
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Google Sues SerpApi for Scraping and Reselling Search Data
Google is suing SerpApi for allegedly bypassing security to scrape and resell copyrighted Google Search content, testing legal boundaries around web scraping. The lawsuit alleges SerpApi used sophisticated methods like cloaking and bot networks for large-scale data harvesting, which Google calls ...
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Report: Trump admin may deny H1-B visas to content moderators
The U.S. State Department has directed consular officials to scrutinize H1-B visa applicants with backgrounds in content moderation or fact-checking, potentially deeming them ineligible if linked to "suppression of protected expression." This policy shift, part of broader immigration changes, has...
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Trump's Push to Penalize States with AI Regulations
The Trump administration's proposed executive order aims to create a uniform national AI regulatory standard to override state laws, arguing that conflicting regulations hinder innovation and burden developers. It would establish an AI Litigation Task Force to sue states with AI regulations deeme...
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Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension: A Case of Government Censorship?
ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's show amid controversy over free speech, with critics pointing to political pressure and regulatory threats from government officials. FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly warned ABC's affiliates of potential fines or license revocation, prompting major broadcasters to drop...
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New York Moves to Regulate Roblox Gaming Platform
New York is proposing new regulations, led by Governor Kathy Hochul, to enhance children's digital safety on online gaming platforms like Roblox, filling gaps left by stalled federal action. The proposed rules would require platforms to verify user ages, set the strictest privacy defaults for min...
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Tech Giants Fund Trump-Linked Nonprofits
Major tech companies are funding Trump-connected nonprofits amid antitrust battles, suggesting strategic alignment to influence regulatory outcomes. The Trump administration is directing legal settlements from tech firms like YouTube toward presidential projects, including a new White House ballr...
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TikTok's US Future: The Buyout Battle Explained
The future of TikTok in the U.S. is uncertain due to national security concerns over data access by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, leading to legislative actions and potential divestment or a ban. A tentative framework has been established between U.S. and Chinese officials, with investor...
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Latest Updates on the US TikTok Deal
TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, has faced years of U.S. scrutiny over data security concerns, leading to political tensions and service disruptions for American users. A proposed deal would transfer control of TikTok's U.S. operations to American investors like Oracle and Silver Lake, valuing...
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