Category: Free Speech

Free Speech, International, Media, Politics

Reddit Now Requires Age Verification in UK to Comply with Nation’s Online Safety Act

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

The news and social media aggregation platform Reddit now requires its United Kingdom based users to provide age verification to access “mature content” hosted on its website. Users must prove they are eighteen years or older to read or contribute such content.

UK regulator Ofcom stated “We expect other companies to follow suit, or face enforcement if they fail to act.” Internet content providers who fail to adopt such measures can face fines of up to eighteen million pounds or ten percent of their worldwide revenue, whichever is greater.

Continue reading “Reddit Now Requires Age Verification in UK to Comply with Nation’s Online Safety Act” →

Academia, Free Speech, Politics

“Did Jesus Pack Heat?”: Maine College Professor Accused of Mocking and Abusing Religious Student Over Gun Rights

There is a controversy at Eastern Maine Community College after a professor reportedly attacked a Christian conservative student for writing an essay about gun control. Katherine Parker accused English instructor Carol Lewandowski of engaging in raw political bias and then receiving no support from the community college.

Continue reading ““Did Jesus Pack Heat?”: Maine College Professor Accused of Mocking and Abusing Religious Student Over Gun Rights” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Media

No, CNN Did Not Commit a Crime in Reporting on the ICE Tracking App

The Justice Department is being asked to look into criminal charges against CNN after publishing a report about an app that allows users to track Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in their area. While critics may view the report as reckless and dangerous, it is not a crime. Continue reading “No, CNN Did Not Commit a Crime in Reporting on the ICE Tracking App” →

Criminal law, Free Speech, International

German Police Conduct Nationwide Crackdown on Citizens Accused of Online Speech Crimes
This month, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) conducted a nationwide search for citizens accused of committing speech crimes.  The annual crackdown is part of Germany’s robust censorship and speech criminalization policies. As European Union censors seek to expand the reach of laws like the Digital Services Act (DSA), all Americans need see the existential threat to our most “Indispensable Right.”

Continue reading “German Police Conduct Nationwide Crackdown on Citizens Accused of Online Speech Crimes” →

Criminal law, Free Speech

“Where You At?”: California Vice Mayor Under Investigation After Calling on Gangs to Protect Their “Turf” Against ICE

The Vice Mayor of Cudahy, Cynthia Gonzalez, is reportedly being investigated by the FBI after she posted a video urging criminal organizations like the 18th Street and Florencia 13 gangs to protect their “turf” against ICE. The call for gang action is disgraceful, particularly as ICE reports a 500 percent increase in attacks on its officers. However,  I do not believe that the comments can be the basis for a criminal charge and would be considered protected speech. Continue reading ““Where You At?”: California Vice Mayor Under Investigation After Calling on Gangs to Protect Their “Turf” Against ICE” →

Academia, Free Speech

University of Oregon Loses Roughly $750,000 in Fighting Free Speech Claim

We have been following the case of Portland State University Professor Bruce Gilley, who was blocked from the Twitter account of the University of Oregon’s Division of Equity and Inclusion after tweeting “All men are created equal.” The case was an obvious attack on free speech by the University of Oregon.  Now the public will pay over three-quarters of a million dollars for the university’s anti-free speech conduct. Continue reading “University of Oregon Loses Roughly $750,000 in Fighting Free Speech Claim” →

Events, Free Speech

Turley Speaks in Kansas City on Free Speech

Today I will have the pleasure of speaking at two events in Kansas City on my book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.” I will first speak at the Judge David J. Waxse Memorial Summer Lecture Series on the Constitution. It is organized by the Kansas Johnson County First Amendment Foundation, Kansas First Amendment Foundation, Kansas City University, and supporting groups. I will then speak in the evening at an event with the American Public Square. I will be happy to sign books at both events. Continue reading “Turley Speaks in Kansas City on Free Speech” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Politics, Society

Rage and the Republic: Turley’s New Book is Now Available for Pre-Order

Simon & Schuster has announced the upcoming release of my new book, Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution. The book is now available for pre-order and will be released on February 3, 2026 for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. If you want to be among the first to receive the book, you can now preorder with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, or other suppliers.

Continue reading “Rage and the Republic: Turley’s New Book is Now Available for Pre-Order” →

Free Speech, International, Media

British Government: Western Cultural Concerns Are Signs of “Right-Wing Terrorist Ideology”

Free speech in the United Kingdom has long been in free fall, with expanding criminalization and regulation of speech. Much of this effort is carried out to combat disinformation or radicalism. The subjectivity of such “Prevent” standards is evident in a new media report that officers are being trained to look for “cultural nationalism,” including those people who are concerned that Western culture is under threat from mass migration. Such concerns are now viewed as indicative of “right-wing terrorist ideology.” Continue reading “British Government: Western Cultural Concerns Are Signs of “Right-Wing Terrorist Ideology”” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech

HA.,HA., Thump: Hawaii Sued by the Babylon Bee and Other Groups Over Speech Crimes

We have previously discussed laws that seek to criminalize “materially deceptive” political content worldwide, including memes and parodies. A civil law was blocked in California, where satirists and comedians opposed a Democratic law barring parodies and other expressions considered misleading. Now, legislators in Hawaii are trying again with a new law (S 2687) that criminalizes “recklessly” distributing “materially deceptive media.” It is clearly unconstitutional and is only the latest such effort to chip away at free speech protections in the United States.

Continue reading “HA.,HA., Thump: Hawaii Sued by the Babylon Bee and Other Groups Over Speech Crimes” →

Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Religion

British Blasphemy Prosecution: London Man Convicted After Burning Qur’an

We recently discussed how the United Kingdom has continued its erosion of free speech by pushing an effective blasphemy law. Now, a London man has been convicted of a “religiously aggravated public order offence.” Hamit Coskun, 50, a Turkish-born Armenian-Kurdish atheist was arrested after burning a Qur’an. Continue reading “British Blasphemy Prosecution: London Man Convicted After Burning Qur’an” →

Columns, Free Speech, International

Marco Rubio Declares War on the Global Censors

Below is my column in The Hill on the new policy of Secretary Marco Rubio to deny entry of foreign figures responsible for the censorship of American citizens. It would constitute the first meaningful response to the growing threat of Europe to free speech in the United States. In the very least, it signals that the United States is prepared to fight to preserve this “Indispensable Right.”

Here is the column: Continue reading “Marco Rubio Declares War on the Global Censors” →

Free Speech, Politics

Christian Group Attacked by Radicals in Seattle…Mayor Criticizes the Christians

On Saturday, Antifa and other radicals launched another violent attack on conservatives. Pastors were holding what they described as a permitted Christian worship event in a park when black-clad Antifa members tried to storm and tear down a barricade. To their credit, the Seattle police moved in and arrested the radicals. However, what happened next is even more concerning: Mayor Bruce Harrell seemed to blame the Christian group and demanded to know why they were given a permit at all for an event in the area. Continue reading “Christian Group Attacked by Radicals in Seattle…Mayor Criticizes the Christians” →