Home : Free Speech : Censorship

Comedians Greg Proops and Maggie Cassella, artist Daniel Heyman, slam poets Steve Connell and Sekou (tha misfit) and ACLU attorney Ben Wizner discuss censorship and civil liberties

Former ACLU client Ron Bilbao talks about his involvement in the banned books case American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, Inc., Greater Miami Chapter, et. al. v. Miami-Dade County School Board

ACLU Appeals Ruling That FBI Agents Who Attacked Journalists Can't Be Held Responsible (09/10/2009)
SAN JUAN, PR – The American Civil Liberties Union today filed an appeal of a federal court ruling that found that, even though there was enough evidence to prove that FBI agents violated the Fourth Amendment rights of journalists by attacking them unprovoked, the agents who committed the attack could not be held responsible for their actions.

Supreme Court Rules FCC Ban On Fleeting Expletives Not "Arbitrary," Doesn't Rule On Constitutionality (04/28/2009)
NEW YORK – By a five to four decision, the Supreme Court ruled today that the Federal Communications Commission had not acted arbitrarily when it changed a long-standing policy and implemented a new ban on even "fleeting expletives" from the airwaves. The Court explicitly declined to decide whether the new rule is constitutional, and sent that issue back to the lower courts for their review.

Creative Arts, Media and Free Speech Groups Join ACLU In Urging Supreme Court To Reject FCC Censorship (08/07/2008)
NEW YORK – In a friend-of-the-court brief filed today on behalf of creative arts, media and free speech organizations, the American Civil Liberties Union criticized the Federal Communication Commission's regulation of "indecent speech" as arbitrary, inconsistent and irreconcilable with core First Amendment values. The brief urges the Supreme Court to uphold a lower court ruling in Federal Communication Commission (FCC) v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. striking down the recent FCC decision to ban even "fleeting expletives" from the airwaves as an unjustified departure from the agency's longstanding practices.

ACLU Applauds Federal Court Decision To Toss Fine In "Wardrobe Malfunction" Case (07/21/2008)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded a federal appeals court decision to uphold free speech by throwing out a $550,000 indecency fine leveraged against CBS for the Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction” that exposed her breast at the 2004 Super Bowl.

Súplica del Triunfo de los Reporteros en Caso de la Brutalidad del FBI (06/19/2008)
SAN JUAN, PR - Una corte federal de apelación dictaminó ayer que un ataque no provocado contra periodistas por los agentes del FBI violaría claramente la Cuarta Enmienda. La Corte de Apelación de los E.E.U.U. para el Primer Circuito revocó una decisión de desestimación en un pleito traído por la ACLU a nombre de los periodistas que fueron golpeados a patadas y puños y rociados con gas pimienta por los agentes del FBI mientras intentaban cubrir un allanamiento en un apartamento en San Juan.

Hate Speech on Campus (12/31/1994)
ACLU Q&A on hate speech on university campuses

Puerto Rico Journalists' Association v. Mueller - Notice of Appeal (09/10/2009)

Puerto Rico Journalists' Association v. Mueller - Second Redacted Opinion and Order (09/04/2009)
Decision of the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico

United States v. Stevens - ACLU Amicus (07/27/2009)
Amicus brief of the DKT Liberty Project, ACLU, and the Center for Democracy and Technology, in support of the respondent.

FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. - Amicus Brief (08/07/2008)
On August 7, 2008 the ACLU filed an amicus brief on behalf of 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.

Puerto Rico Journalists' Association v. Mueller - Decision (06/18/2008)
Decision of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals

Iqbal Coalition Letter - House (10/30/2009)

Iqbal Coalition Letters - Senate (10/30/2009)

ACLU Comments to FCC Regarding Net Neutrality (03/14/2008)

ACLU Testimony Before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations Regarding Censorship At the Borders (03/28/2006)
Statement of Caroline Fredrickson Director, Washington Legislative Office American Civil Liberties Union Before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations Committee on Government Reform, United States House of Representatives Concerning Setting Post-9/11 Investigative Priorities at the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, March 28, 2006

ACLU Comments to the Federal Communications Commission re: MB Docket No. 04-261, the Matter of Violent Television Programming and Its Impact on Children (09/15/2004)

FCC v. Fox Television Stations and "Fleeting Expletives" (08/07/2008)
On August 7, 2008, the ACLU 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. The brief urges the Supreme Court to uphold a ruling from New York in FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc., striking down the FCC's recent decision to ban even "fleeting expletives" from the airwaves as an unjustified departure from the agency's longstanding practice.

Fleeting Expletives Legislation Talking Points (09/19/2007)

ACLU of Arkansas' Letter to the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission (07/10/2007)
ACLU of Arkansas' letter to the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, submitted as amicus curiae in support of Judge Wendell Griffen.

Celebrating the Freedom to Read (09/26/2006)

A History of Fighting Censorship (09/26/2006)

Additional Statements of Leslie Weise and Alex Young (11/21/2005)

United States v. Stevens (08/01/2009)
Whether the First Amendment permits the government to criminalize the interstate sale or possession of any depiction of animal cruelty that is illegal where the depiction is created, sold or possessed, unless the depiction has serious value.

Ashcroft v. ACLU (09/01/2001)
DECIDED

Ashcroft v. The Free Speech Coalition (09/01/2001)
DECIDED

Puerto Rico Journalists' Association v. Mueller (11/05/2007)