Supreme Court strikes down state law barring sex offenders from Facebook

[EC]

The Supreme Court struck down a North Carolina law Monday that bans registered sex offenders from accessing Facebook and other social media.

The court ruled 8-0 that the law impermissibly restricts lawful speech in violation of the First Amendment.

In delivering the opinion of the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy said a fundamental principle of the First Amendment is that all persons have access to places where they can speak and listen, and then, after reflection, respond.

“While in the past there may have been difficulty in identifying the most important places (in a spatial sense) for the exchange of views, today the answer is clear,” he said. “It is cyberspace — the ‘vast democratic forums of the Internet’ in general and social media in particular.”

More: http://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/338440-supreme-court-strikes-down-state-law-barring-sex-offenders-from

[edpc]

In delivering the opinion of the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy said a fundamental principle of the First Amendment is that all persons have access to places where they can speak and listen, and then, after reflection, respond.

Weird because I thought commission of certain crimes took away your rights - for instance 2nd Amendment rights for felons.

[Emjay]

Weird because I thought commission of certain crimes took away your rights - for instance 2nd Amendment rights for felons.

It was an 8-0 decision.  Taking away rights to speak on public forums might be the dangerous thin edge of the wedge.

[jmyrlefuller]

There's also the issue of jurisdiction: Facebook is based in California, meaning it is not subject to the laws of North Carolina. The law is flimsy in its enforceability anyway.

[Sighlass]

Weird because I thought commission of certain crimes took away your rights - for instance 2nd Amendment rights for felons.

Perfect point... "shall not be infringed" seems awful clear yet it is the most battered of amendments.

[Free Vulcan]

Weird because I thought commission of certain crimes took away your rights - for instance 2nd Amendment rights for felons.

You think an enterprising lawyer could do something with this ruling to fix that, or at least limit it to violent felonies.

[edpc]

It was an 8-0 decision.  Taking away rights to speak on public forums might be the dangerous thin edge of the wedge.

I don't necessarily disagree.  Seems like they could be consistent on rights and when they can or cannot be taken away.

[driftdiver]

I don't necessarily disagree.  Seems like they could be consistent on rights and when they can or cannot be taken away.

If the amount of support they get was equal to the size of the letters, the font used on the 1st amendment should be about a 56pt font.

The 2nd amendment would be a 4pt font.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I wonder if registered sex offenders can be monitored and tracked on these social sites.   

[rodamala]

[edpc]

If the amount of support they get was equal to the size of the letters, the font used on the 1st amendment should be about a 56pt font.

The 2nd amendment would be a 4pt font.

That's too bad, because most don't realize the 2nd is the only thing guaranteeing the others.