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Online Free Speech
VICTORY! On July 22, 2008, a federal appeals court ruled that the Child Online Protection Act (COPA) violates the constitutional right to free speech. This challenge to Internet censorship in ACLU v. Gonzales (originally ACLU v. Reno, then ACLU v. Ashcroft) began in October 2006. The law threatened draconian criminal sanctions, with penalties of up to $50,000 per day and up to six months imprisonment, for sites presenting online material acknowledged as valuable for adults but judged "harmful to minors." Clients included a broad coalition of writers, artists and health educators with a diverse Web presence. Learn More >>
> Federal Court Once Again Upholds Ban On Unconstitutional Internet Censorship Law (7/22/2008)
> Blog: Court Strikes Down Internet Censorship Law

FCC Proposes Net Neutrality Rules (09/22/2009)
WASHINGTON – On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed expanded “net neutrality” guidelines that would require Internet service providers to treat all content and applications equally, regardless of their origin or messaging. The American Civil Liberties Union strongly supports these principles put forth by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, which would offer much needed First Amendment protections. The FCC is also calling on operators to make their management practices transparent to users, offering greater consumer protections.

ACLU Sues To Stop Tennessee Schools From Censoring Gay Educational Web Sites (05/19/2009)
NASHVILLE, TN – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Tennessee sued two Tennessee school districts in federal court today, charging the schools are unconstitutionally blocking students from accessing online information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Knox County Schools and as many as 105 other school districts in Tennessee use Internet filtering software to block Web sites containing pro-LGBT speech, but not Web sites touting so-called "reparative therapy" and "ex-gay" ministries. The "LGBT" filter is not used to block sites containing pornography, which are filtered under a different category, but it does block the sites of many well-known LGBT organizations including Parents, Families, And Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

Christiansburg Blogger May Criticize Developer's Dirt Pile (04/10/2009)
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, VA – The Virginia Supreme Court has rejected developer Roger W. Woody's appeal of a Montgomery County Circuit Court's decision to dismiss his libel suit against Terry Ellen Carter, a Christiansburg resident who complained on her website about a large mound of dirt on one of Woody's properties.

Supreme Court Refuses To Revive Online Censorship Law (01/21/2009)
WASHINGTON – In a clear victory for free speech, the Supreme Court has announced that it will not hear the government's appeal of a ban on the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), the federal law that would criminalize constitutionally protected speech on the Internet.

ACLU Sues To Protect Broward Student's Free Speech In Web 2.0 World (12/08/2008)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed suit today on behalf of Katherine Evans, a former Pembroke Pines Charter high school student, to protect her freedom of speech. In November 2007, Evans was suspended for three days for engaging in protected off-campus speech. Principal Peter Bayer's actions came at a high price for Evans, an advanced placement student in her critical senior year.

Bradburn v. North Central Regional Library District - Plaintiffs' Opening Brief (03/03/2009)

Mukasey v. ACLU (COPA) - Brief in Opposition (11/26/2008)

ACLU v. Mukasey - Opinion of the Court (07/22/2008)

ACLU v. Gonzales - Brief for the Appellees (10/22/2007)
ACLU opposition brief in response to the government's appeal to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.

ACLU v. Gonzales - Brief for the Appellant (09/17/2007)
The government's appeal brief to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

ACLU Legislative Priorities for the 111th Congress (01/13/2009)

A Quick Glance at the ACLU's Legislative Priorities for the 111th Congress (01/13/2009)

ACLU Comments to FCC Re: Service Rules for Advanced Wireless Services in the 2155-2175 MHz Band and Service Rules for Advanced Wireless Services in the 1915-1920 MHz, 1995-2000 MHz, 2020-2025 MHz and 2175-2180 MHz Bands (07/28/2008)
The ACLU supports making broadband services more accessible to the public through universal access and expansion of the broadcast spectrum, including efforts to develop the vast unused portions of the wireless spectrum. The Commission should ensure that any licenses granted to utilize that spectrum, including the 2155-2175 MHz 1915-1920 MHz, 1995-2000 MHz, 2020-2025 MHz and 2175-2180 MHz bands that are the subject of the proposed rules in these matters, guarantee users access to the lawful Internet content of their choice, using applications and services of their choice. At the same time, the Commission should decline to impose unconstitutional conditions on license applications, such as a requirement for so-called “family friendly” filters that would censor lawful content.

ACLU, TLP, and ACLU of PA Comments Before FCC Re: Hearing on Broadband and the Digital Future (07/21/2008)
The ACLU, Technology and Liberty Project of the ACLU, and the ACLU of Pennsylvania have been principal participants in many of the important Internet censorship and neutrality cases decided by the United States Supreme Court in the past two decades, including Reno v. ACLU, Ashcroft v. ACLU, Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, and the Brand X decision, in which the Court held that cable companies providing broadband Internet access were “information service providers” for purposes of regulation by the FCC under the Communications Act. The ACLU of Pennsylvania was co-counsel in two of the leading Internet decisions, Reno v. ACLU and Ashcroft v. ACLU. Last year, the ACLU of Pennsylvania obtained relief in the Ashcroft litigation that permanently enjoined the Child Online Protection Act (“COPA”).

ACLU Comments to FCC Regarding Service Rules for Advanced Wireless Services in the 2155-2175 MHz Band (06/05/2008)
The ACLU supports making broadband services more accessible to the public through universal access and expansion of the broadcast spectrum, including efforts to develop the vast unused portions of the wireless spectrum. The Commission should ensure that any licenses granted to utilize that spectrum, including the 2155-2175 MHz band that is the subject of the Petition in this matter, guarantee users access to the lawful Internet content of their choice, using applications and services of their choice. At the same time, the Commission should decline to impose unconstitutional conditions on license applications, such as a requirement for so-called "family friendly" filters that would censor lawful content.

Online Free Speech - Exhibits (11/20/2006)
Some exhibits used in the ACLU's closing arguments, November 20, 2006

Online Free Speech - Trial Transcripts (10/23/2006)

Child Online Protection Act - The Law (10/20/2006)

Online Free Speech - Client, Adam Glickman (10/20/2006)

Online Free Speech - Client, Aaron Peckham (10/20/2006)

ACLU & Youth: Why We Need Net Neutrality Protections (10/23/2006)

Net Neutrality: Myths and Facts (09/22/2006)