ARTICLE · 16 AUGUST 2017

Stumbling "Blocks": When Is Social Media Moderation A First Amendment Violation?

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

Explore more from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

As we previously discussed in our post "The ‘Commander-in-Tweet' and the First Amendment," the POTUS was criticized by the Knight First Amendment Institute for blocking certain Twitter users...

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Carolyn S. Toto

As we previously discussed in our post "The 'Commander-in-Tweet' and the First Amendment," the POTUS was criticized by the Knight First Amendment Institute for blocking certain Twitter users from his @realDonaldTrump account. According to the Knight First Amendment Institute, President Trump's Twitter account functions like a town hall meeting where the public can voice their views about government actions and attendees cannot be excluded based on their views under the First Amendment. Therefore, according to the Knight Institute, President Trump is violating the First Amendment by blocking users based on the content of their tweets. Subsequently, on July 11, 2017, the Knight First Amendment filed suit against President Trump and his communications team on this basis.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

Related Articles

DOJ Announces First ‘Near Miss’ Non-Prosecution Agreement Under Its Corporate Enforcement Policy

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Ballard Spahr LLP

DoW Issues New Online Guide To Prototype Other Transactions: Key Changes For Contractors

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Initial Massachusetts 2028 Ballot Questions Target Taxes, Technology, And Energy

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

What Companies Need To Know To Prepare For The Next Congress

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Recent Developments In The Trump Administration's AI Strategy

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Baker Botts L.L.P.

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

See more popular content from

Government, Public Sector

SBA Extends Deadline For Comments On Historic Overhaul Of Size Standards

The Small Business Administration has extended the comment period for two proposed rules that could dramatically reshape federal government contracting by significantly expanding the pool of entities eligible for small business set-aside procurements. With some size standard thresholds proposed to increase as much as tenfold, these changes would fundamentally alter the makeup of the small business contractor base.

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Crowell & Moring LLP

D.C. Circuit Rules Pentagon Can Exclude Anthropic From Supply Chain

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled that the Department of War can exclude Anthropic from its supply chain under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act, finding that the AI company's ability to manipulate its Claude model creates a supply chain risk. This decision contrasts with an earlier California district court ruling that blocked a similar designation under a different statute, creating a complex legal landscape for AI providers and government contractors.

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP

FMCSA MOTUS Implementation – Common Motor Carrier Concerns

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration launched MOTUS in May 2026, replacing legacy registration platforms and fundamentally changing how motor carriers, freight brokers, and surface freight forwarders handle operating authority applications and license maintenance. While designed to combat fraud and streamline registration activities, the transition has created significant user experience challenges that threaten operating authority status and customer relationships for transportation service prov

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Sanctions Update: October 19, 2026

This comprehensive sanctions update examines the US delisting of Venezuelan politician Jorge Rodriguez amid diplomatic negotiations and energy sector expansion, while tracking global sanctions developments including new US restrictions on Iranian banks, UK measures targeting hostile Iranian activities, EU designations for sanctions circumvention, and China's proposed export controls on advanced technologies.

GlobalGovernment, Public Sector

When Can Congress Refuse To Seat A Duly-Elected Candidate?

Never. In 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Speaker of the House could not exclude a duly-elected candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Holland & Knight

BIOSECURE Act Update: Court Enjoins WuXi AppTec’s 1260H Designation, but Strategic and Compliance Clocks Keep Running

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has preliminarily enjoined the Department of War from enforcing WuXi AppTec's Section 1260H designation, finding the agency misread its evidence on state and military affiliation. However, this ruling does not close alternative pathways to biotechnology company of concern (BCC) designation under the BIOSECURE Act, and earlier supply-chain restrictions continue to drive near-term compliance decisions with a critical June 30, 2027 deadline for sub-tier supp

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Greenberg Traurig

Weekly Sanctions Update: October 13, 2026

The US has authorized Russian diesel imports while simultaneously expanding sanctions against the International Criminal Court and Iran's shadow fleet. These developments highlight tensions between energy security concerns and sanctions enforcement, as international partners express divergence over US policy directions.

GlobalGovernment, Public Sector

Massachusetts’ 2026 Ballot Questions: What Clients Need To Know

Massachusetts voters will decide nine statewide ballot questions in November 2026 that could fundamentally reshape the state's legal, regulatory, and fiscal landscape. These measures address government transparency, election reforms, housing development, marijuana regulation, firearms laws, and state revenue limits, with implications extending far beyond Election Day to implementation, regulation, and ongoing policy debates.

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

Weekly Sanctions Update: September 14, 2026

The Treasury Department intensifies economic pressure on Iran through Operation Economic Outcast, suspending aviation licenses and sanctioning dozens of entities while implementing a presumption of denial for Iran-related transactions. Meanwhile, new enforcement actions target Chinese cybercrime platforms, Ecuadorian terrorist organizations, and Israeli settlers, as Congress considers comprehensive Russia-Iran sanctions legislation.

GlobalGovernment, Public Sector

The Analysts' Brief: The US-Russia Diesel Deal

The Trump administration's October 2025 diesel deal with Russia promises temporary sanctions relief to ease US fuel prices before midterm elections, but analysts question whether the limited supply will meaningfully impact global markets or represent a lasting shift in US-Russia relations. The agreement has already strained transatlantic partnerships and US-Ukraine cooperation while raising compliance uncertainties for businesses navigating evolving sanctions regimes.

GlobalGovernment, Public Sector