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Not quite the issue here. You absolutely have the right to free speech in the US. But any owner of private property can pretty much ban you from that property,
by daychilde 16y ago
Not quite the issue here.
You absolutely have the right to free speech in the US. But any owner of private property can pretty much ban you from that property, for example (there are certainly some protected exceptions, but in general 'the law' is on their side).
Similarly, Rackspace has the right to stop servicing their customer if they feel the customer has violated the contract. Now, whether or not a court has to step in to determine the validity of the contract, etc, is a completely separate issue.
But this most certainly all has absolutely nothing to do with constitutionally protected speech.
- rbanffy 16y ago> can pretty much ban you from that property In effect, you have your free speech curtailed because you have to express it using someone else's property. Companies like Rackspace may prevent your free speech from reaching anyone for any reason that fits the contract you signed.
- MichaelSalib 16y agoSurely you've heard of the old saying that "freedom of the press is limited to those who presses", right?
- rbanffy 16y agoRemember this? https://projects.eff.org/~barlow/Declaration-Final.html https://projects.eff.org/~barlow/Declaration-Final.html It's important
- MichaelSalib 16y agoNo, it is not important. Adolescent wish fulfillment does not automatically become important just because you think it is awesome.
- twymer 16y agoI feel like it's important to compare this to things in the "real world". You have the right to free speech, but you're probably going to be quickly ordered to leave a church if you begin swearing loudly. You have the right to bear arms, but buildings are free to forbid you bring in weapons of any sort.
- rbanffy 16y agoI am not sure the analogies work. It's a Rackspace server on a Rackspace datacenter but nobody is swearing loudly in or carrying weapons into Rackspace's offices.
- twymer 16y agoThe weapons being a legal sense. Despite having the legal right to concealed carry, a building can forbid you from bringing it inside. They are all just cases of someone who is providing a service being able to give stipulations over what can occur there. A church won't let you swear, some places don't want you to concealed carry, and a hosting provider doesn't want you to organize hatred.