Judge Rules Trump Can’t Block People on Twitter
May 23, 2018 18:38:22 GMT -5
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Post by Drifter on May 23, 2018 18:38:22 GMT -5
Judge Rules Trump Can’t Block People on Twitter
President Donald Trump can’t block critics from following his Twitter account, a federal judge ruled in a decision that opens his favorite communication forum to uncensored commentary from political opponents.
In a 75-page ruling that rejects Trump’s argument that he has a First Amendment right to pick with whom he associates and not to engage with others, a Manhattan federal judge said the section of his personal account with the reply button is a public forum. Blocking users on the basis of political speech is a violation of their free-speech rights, the court said.
“This is a groundbreaking decision,” said Clay Calvert, a First Amendment expert who teaches at University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. “It establishes that social media accounts operated by a government official -- even the president of the United States -- constitutes a public forum."
While it’s not the only ruling that a public official can’t block criticism on social media, it’s the first to apply the concept to the president’s feed on @realdonaldtrump. Trump uses the Twitter account for policy and diplomatic announcements as well as to lash out at the media and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
"No government official -- including the president -- is above the law," wrote U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan.
read more here.
President Donald Trump can’t block critics from following his Twitter account, a federal judge ruled in a decision that opens his favorite communication forum to uncensored commentary from political opponents.
In a 75-page ruling that rejects Trump’s argument that he has a First Amendment right to pick with whom he associates and not to engage with others, a Manhattan federal judge said the section of his personal account with the reply button is a public forum. Blocking users on the basis of political speech is a violation of their free-speech rights, the court said.
“This is a groundbreaking decision,” said Clay Calvert, a First Amendment expert who teaches at University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. “It establishes that social media accounts operated by a government official -- even the president of the United States -- constitutes a public forum."
While it’s not the only ruling that a public official can’t block criticism on social media, it’s the first to apply the concept to the president’s feed on @realdonaldtrump. Trump uses the Twitter account for policy and diplomatic announcements as well as to lash out at the media and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
"No government official -- including the president -- is above the law," wrote U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan.
read more here.
