Laws and Proposed Laws, 2008 to present Archives
Laws that seek to block animal rights activists and others from recording or otherwise documenting alleged abuses of animals or animal cruelty in the agriculture industry, often as part of undercover investigations, are referred to as ag-gag laws. Defenders of the laws contend they are necessary to protect agricultural property, business operations and privacy. Detractors
Critics of a California law cracking down on authentication of autographed
collectibles say it violates the First Amendment by limiting the spread of
information.
States in 2022 and 2023 began introducing laws to restrict drag show
performances, raising questions about the First Amendment rights of free
expression.
The Free Flow of Information Act would create a federal shield law to
protect reporters. Opponents of the law say the First Amendment does not
entitle press to special privileges.
Funeral protest laws have been passed in response to distasteful protests
at military funerals. Courts have generally upheld the laws against First
Amendment challenges.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2009)
does not penalize speech unless the speech is intended to incite hate
crimes.
Some states have laws that allow adoption agencies to refuse adoption
services to same-sex couples, raising questions about First Amendment
religious rights.
A federal judge blocked Florida’s Stop W.O.K.E. Act saying that it violates
the First Amendment by limiting professors at state schools from expressing
certain viewpoints related to race, sex and country of origin when relevant
to the curriculum.
It’s no exaggeration to use the term “exploding growth” if you’re referring to TikTok, a social media, content-sharing platform that has gone from zero to more than 2.5 billion worldwide users, including an estimated 150 million or more in the United States, in less than six years. The platform showcases short-form user videos. While younger users