First Amendment

IJ defends freedom of speech in a variety of contexts, from commercial speech to political speech, ensuring that government regulation is constrained and that new forms of communications can become the technologies of freedom.

With the Internet, virtually anyone can be a publisher. But while individuals view such powerful media as opportunities to expand the free flow of information in the marketplace of ideas, government regulatory agencies consider them a threat. Devastating consequences for a republic result when government erects barriers to speech that prevent individuals from speaking or publishing opinions that can be out of favor with the current political elite.

Representing software developers and online content providers, the Institute’s litigation extended First Amendment protections for Internet speech, thereby limiting government’s regulation of speech and commerce via software and the Internet.