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The first amendment means that the government(s) cannot prosecute you for what you say. But there are exceptions: - You can be prosecuted for the effects of sp
by rrwo 4y ago
The first amendment means that the government(s) cannot prosecute you for what you say. But there are exceptions:
- You can be prosecuted for the effects of speech, e.g. inciting people to riot/commit crimes;
- Threats of violence are not protected;
- Misleading claims in advertisements are not protected;
You can still be sued in civil courts for libel/slander, or the effects of your speech.
And people have the right to shun you if they don't like what you say.
It does not mean that a publisher is obligated to publish your speech. A newspaper does not have to publish your letter, a blog can delete your comments, and Facebook or Twitter can delete your posts or even suspend your account.
- cm_silva 4y agoHere is what the first amendment says: >Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The main question here is whether the government is abridging the freedom of speech. If they are only requesting for removals and not doing it directly, that may not be against the letter of the law but it certainly goes against the spirit. N.B. I'm not a lawyer. And I'm not going to go into the times that first amendment alone has been trampled, because life is short.