Social Networks, Public Officials

The Supreme Court Addresses When Public Officials Can Block Social Media Followers

Saiber LLC on 3/19/2024

On March 15, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States issued decisions in Lindke v. Freed and Garnier v. O’Connor-Ratcliff, two cases which involved when public officials can block social media followers and delete their...more

The Supreme Court Update - March 15, 2024

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on 3/18/2024

The Supreme Court of the United States issued three decisions today: Lindke v. Freed, No. 22-611: This case addresses whether a public official violates the First Amendment by blocking individuals from commenting on the...more

OOR Rules that Elected Official’s Social Media Accounts are Records of the Agency

Tucker Arensberg, P.C. on 12/8/2020

In Schultz v. Montgomery County, AP 2020-1280, the Requester sought records related to a County Commissioner’s social media accounts, including sent and received Twitter Direct Messages and private Facebook messages, all...more

Politicians in Cyberspace: Fourth Circuit Holds That First Amendment Bars Officials From Blocking Users On Social Media

Poyner Spruill LLP on 1/15/2019

The Fourth Circuit has held that a Virginia politician who temporarily barred a constituent from her Facebook page violated the First Amendment. The ruling is the first appellate guidance analyzing the knotty issue of whether...more

How a Court’s Decision that the President Can’t Block Twitter Users Impacts Public Officials - First Amendment Issues and Social...

Best Best & Krieger LLP on 6/14/2018

If a public official creates a public forum from his or her social media account — even if the account was established before taking office — the official cannot block people from the account in response to the person...more

Court Rules That First Amendment Limits, But Does Not Nullify, Public Officials’ Ability To Block Online Critics

Poyner Spruill LLP on 8/10/2017

In Packingham v. North Carolina, 137 S. Ct. 1730, 1735 (U.S. 2017) the Supreme Court of the United States held that N.C.G.S. § 14-202.5, a North Carolina statute that barred registered sex offenders from websites such as...more

Federal Court rules that Elected Official Violated First Amendment when Banning Commenter on the Official’s Public Facebook Page

Tucker Arensberg, P.C. on 8/4/2017

The District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a recent decision that that should remind public officials and employees that if they have social media websites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), the websites may be...more

Social Media Freedom of Expression Cases Pit the Public Against Public Officials

Best Best & Krieger LLP on 7/30/2014

In perhaps the next battleground for government and education, citizens who comment on social media sites are facing off with local government officials public and school administrators who find their online expression...more

Social Networks › Public Officials

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