American Civil Liberties Union

Free Speech:
Freedom of speech is protected in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights and is guaranteed to all Americans. Since 1920, the ACLU has worked to preserve our freedom of speech. Learn more and take action to protect the right to free speech.



Ideological Exclusion

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> ACLU Challenges Patents On Breast Cancer Genes

National Coalition of Authors Urges Rejection Of Google Book Search Deal
The coalition is concerned that the collection of personally identifying information about users who browse, read and make purchases online at Google Book Search will chill their readership.
> Don't Close the Book on Reader Privacy: ACLU of Northern California's resources on privacy and Google Reader

Protest and the President
For years, the ACLU has fought the White House policy of shielding the president from dissent. The First Amendment protects the right to free speech, but that right is undermined if protesters can't be heard. More >>
> WV: ACLU Calls Government Settlement in Anti-Bush T-Shirt Case a Victory for Free Speech
> CO: White House Staffers Sued for Ejecting Denver Residents from Bush Event
> NM: Protestors Should be Seen and Heard

FCC v. Fox Television Stations and "Fleeting Expletives"
The ACLU has filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of several creative arts, media and free speech organizations criticizing the Federal Communication Commission's regulation of "indecent speech" as arbitrary, inconsistent, and irreconcilable with core First Amendment values. More >>

Federal Court Upholds Ban on Internet Censorship Law
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld a federal district court decision that the Child Online Protection Act (COPA) violates the First and Fifth Amendments. Read the decision >>



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Judiciary Committee Reviews Predatory Marketing Law Following Constitutional Challenge (10/15/2009)
The Maine Civil Liberties Union testified today in front of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee regarding a new Maine law with potentially disastrous consequences for the free flow of information and the First Amendment rights of Mainers. The law, which was intended only to protect children from predatory marketing by pharmaceutical companies goes far further, implicating not only free speech, but also privacy rights and Commerce Clause restrictions on state regulations.

ACLU Wins Free Speech Victory Court Declares City of Englewood's Sign Code Unconstitutional (10/1/2009)
Today, the Colorado Court of Appeals agreed with the ACLU in a case challenging the constitutionality of the City of Englewood's sign code. The case was brought on behalf of Mike Mahaney, an Englewood shop owner whose mural depicting an Alice in Wonderland scene prompted controversy and citations for allegedly violating the City's sign code.

Obama Administration Seeks To Gut Reporters Shield Legislation (10/1/2009)
WASHINGTON – According to a report in the New York Times today, the Obama administration has presented a proposal to Congress regarding legislative efforts to secure a federal reporters’ shield bill. The administration reportedly will oppose any legislation that would protect journalists from being thrown in prison for refusing to reveal confidential national security sources. The proposal reportedly claims that the administration could decide what stories would cause “significant” damage to national security and, in some cases, have courts defer to the administration’s assertions.


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