The case for ignoring censorship orders
AP Photo/Jim Wells
Bars on publication, also known as prior restraints, are a serious violation of free speech.
The First Amendment forbids nearly all orders barring the press from publishing information, also known as prior restraints. But that doesn’t stop the government from trying.
For nearly 100 years, the Supreme Court has consistently rejected prior restraints on the press, including in its famous decision in the Pentagon Papers case. But lower courts and government officials continue to violate the Constitution by trying to gag the press from publishing, withholding vital information from the public. Prior restraints are antithetical to press freedom and must be stopped.
Featured Items
-
Privacy protection shouldn’t come at free speech’s expense
A troubling federal court decision that upholds New Jersey’s Daniel’s Law lowers the First Amendment bar for privacy laws
-
‘Who are we to judge,’ ask … judges, upholding TikTok ban
We warned that the TikTok ban forgets the lessons of the Pentagon Papers case. Last week’s court decision upholding the law proved our point
-
Anatomy of a censorship campaign: A tech exec’s crusade to stifle journalism
Tactics used by businessman against reporting he dislikes are increasingly common. Here’s how reporters can be prepared and fight back
-
California officials must let journalists cover encampment sweeps
Threats to arrest journalists are the latest in a long line of egregious press freedom violations in the Golden State
-
Press freedom at the DNC: Inside the convention and out on the streets
Listen to leading press freedom advocates discuss what they saw during last week’s Democratic National Convention
-
Chicago police ignore warnings about press freedom at DNC protests
We warned them, in print and on the radio, that dispersing law-abiding journalists violates the First Amendment. They did it anyway
-
Why is Chicago removing newsracks for the DNC?
When college activists in Chicagoland tampered with newspapers they were charged with obscure crimes. But now the city of Chicago is doing the tampering
-
Gag rules stifle financial journalism
The government cannot silence its critics to save itself from embarrassment
-
Guest Opinion: Prison social media bans silence important voices
Restrictions on social media quell incarcerated journalists' access to their audience and harm the public’s right to know. A pending federal proposal would make things worse
-
Federal prosecutors claim news is criminal contraband
Unconstitutional prior restraints are already on the rise. Now prosecutors are exploring novel new theories to censor journalists
