Save the Trolls: How Vague Laws Clearly Threaten Liberty

April 25, 2012

A recent 'anti-cyberstalking' or 'cyberbullying' bill in Arizona raised some eyebrows before it ever reached the governor's desk.  Apparently the bill was so broad in its potential application that some lawmakers now worry that it could be used to silence online "trolls" who post hateful things on Facebook and in online chat rooms. Despite the fact that all of these concerns were previously well-known to anyone with half a brain, legislators apparently thought it was best to pass the law … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Free Speech/Civil Liberties Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Right to Record: Little Rock Case Affirms Need for Protecting Citizens’ Rights

November 9, 2011

On October 29 in Little Rock, a disagreement between an off-duty cop and a civilian at the upscale Ferneau restaurant erupted into a full-scale brawl—and a few days later, a lawsuit. The victim alleges police brutality. Nobody who wasn't at the restaurant could have any idea what actually happened—except that a spectator videotaped the incident. The victim's attorney released the video, seen at the top of this post, on YouTube. The video tells us something, but it certainly doesn't tell … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature, Arkansas Media Tagged With: , , , , ,

NYT: Backpage.com Adult Ads Are Free Speech, Dude

October 31, 2011
Backpage confidential

I posted before on the effort by attorneys general around the nation, including Arkansas' own Dustin McDaniel, to force the online classified operation Backpage.com to shut down their "Adult Services" ad section. That section features ads for escorts, body rubs and other things that just sound amazing. However, the AGs beg to differ: they say the "Adult Services" section facilitates prostitution and sex trafficking. Uh oh! Previously, Backpage.com fired back with a feisty 10-page letter … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Atty. General Dustin McDaniel Tagged With: , , ,

Bully Pulpit: Will Arkansas ‘Cyberbullying’ Law Criminalize Free Speech?

August 8, 2011

City officials in Renton, Wash., are scrambling to identify the creator of a series of web videos exposing corruption and incompetence in the city police department. The videos (simple cartoons created on Xtranormal.com and distributed via YouTube) allege a variety of sex scandals, unearned promotions, drunkenness, abuse and more. Here's a taste (includes some NSFW language, in case you have an uptight supervisor or co-worker in earshot): The city prosecutor is seeking to identify the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Arkansas Legislature, Arkansas Media, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,