Google, Meta and TikTok have filed separate lawsuits challenging California's Assembly Bill 1709, which bans 'psychologically exploitative' features like personalized feeds, infinite scroll and autoplay for users under 16 and requires age verification. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law in September as part of a broader social media and AI safety package, with it set to take effect January 1, 2027. The companies argue the law violates the First Amendment and Section 230, saying it overrides their editorial judgment and parents' authority.
techspot.com
· 2026-11-06
Following sexual assault allegations against seven Cornell Chi Phi fraternity members, online users including commentator Michael Tracey attempted to identify the anonymous accuser, with Tracey arguing his actions are protected under the First Amendment. George Washington University law professor Mary Anne Franks, who leads the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, discussed the case in an interview, framing sexual abuse and harassment as themselves free speech issues that silence victims.
wired.com
· 2026-10-20
Retired University of Pennsylvania professor Carolyn Marvin was handcuffed and arrested in Philadelphia's Center City after standing in front of an Avride delivery robot to block its path. She was charged with disorderly conduct after refusing police orders to move, saying she was exercising her First Amendment right to protest. Marvin said she has repeatedly blocked the robots because she believes they threaten delivery workers' jobs.
futurism.com
· 2026-10-19
A partially unsealed court filing from a class-action lawsuit over a January ICE operation in Maine alleges that DHS agents compiled dossiers on people who observed or protested ICE activity, storing photos and license plate numbers in Palantir's Investigative Case Management database. The filing claims agents labeled some individuals 'Threat to Law Enforcement, Professional Protestor' and, in one instance, warned a plaintiff's spouse by phone that such activity could lead to inclusion on a domestic terrorism watchlist. DHS told Wired the lawsuit is 'meritless' and denied any database tracking people as domestic terrorists.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-03
Rep. Jamie Raskin sent a letter to Apple this week arguing the company has no evidence to support claims that apps like ICEBlock endangered ICE officers, following Apple's removal of such apps from the App Store. Apple had earlier told Raskin the apps were pulled after a fatal shooting at a Dallas ICE facility, but Raskin disputes DHS and FBI claims linking that shooter to app usage, calling the justification unsupported.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-29
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order requiring the White House to reinstate press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, which had been revoked last Friday. The order lasts 14 days, with the judge finding the outlets are likely to prevail on claims their passes were pulled without due process; hours after the ruling, a CNN reporter said she was still denied entry.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-24
EFF joined the ACLU, ACLU of D.C., and photography trade groups in an amicus brief urging the D.C. Circuit to strike down an FAA drone flight restriction in Levine v. FAA. The rule had barred drones from flying near DHS officers and vehicles, including ICE and CBP convoys, effectively blocking aerial recording of immigration enforcement even from over half a mile away. Although the FAA rescinded the restriction in April after being sued, the petitioner argues the case should still be decided because past violations remain punishable and the agency could reimpose the rule.
eff.org
· 2026-09-22
Major American television networks suspended their rotating pool coverage of President Trump on Monday, following the removal of CNN as the designated pool network and the exclusion of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House access last week. The move came in solidarity with the banned outlets, which have since filed a lawsuit alleging the denial of access violates their First Amendment rights.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-21
CNN, MS NOW and Politico announced they are suing the Trump administration after their White House reporters had their press badges deactivated and were turned away over the weekend. The move followed Trump's public declaration that he was barring the outlets for reporting he called 'fake news.' The three outlets said they notified the government Monday of a lawsuit to challenge the credential revocations.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-21
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that U.S. border agents may search travelers' electronic devices without any individualized suspicion, rejecting arguments for a warrant requirement. The decision came in United States v. Alisigwe, a case in which prosecutors used evidence from two warrantless cellphone searches conducted at the border. The Knight First Amendment Institute and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press had filed a brief urging the court to require warrants, citing First and Fourth Amendment concerns.
knightcolumbia.org
· 2026-09-18
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration must withdraw its designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk, finding the label was retaliation rather than a genuine security concern. The dispute arose after talks broke down between Anthropic and the Pentagon over limits on using its AI in autonomous weapons and surveillance, prompting Anthropic to sue in March.
techspot.com
· 2026-08-28
A federal judge determined that the Trump administration's designation of AI company Anthropic as a supply-chain risk was unlawful retaliation against the company. The ruling found the government's action violated Anthropic's First Amendment rights.
wsj.com
· 2026-08-28
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