Facebook 'Likes' Aren't Protected Speech 214
An anonymous reader writes "In what may win awards for the silliest-sounding lawsuit of the year, a case about whether Facebook 'likes' qualify for free speech protection under the First Amendment has ended in a decisive 'no.' In the run-up to an election for Sheriff, some of the incumbent's employees made their support for the challenger known by 'liking' his page on Facebook. After the incumbent won re-election, the employees were terminated, supposedly because of budget concerns. The employees had taken a few other actions as well — bumper stickers and cookouts — but they couldn't prove the Sheriff was aware of them. The judge thus ruled that 'merely "liking" a Facebook page is insufficient speech to merit constitutional protection. In cases where courts have found that constitutional speech protections extended to Facebook posts, actual statements existed within the record.'"
Re:What kind of world... (Score:5, Funny)
Corporations are people too, so suck it, you godless socialist atheist communist fascist Islamist!
Judge Interviewed (Score:4, Funny)
When questioned by reporters, the judge responded, "My cousin^H^H^H^H^H^H The sheriff is a hard working public servant who had to make some tough budget choices."
Come, come now (Score:2, Funny)
However, I think the GP's "rigorous test" can possibly be summarised as:
Re:What kind of world... (Score:5, Funny)
That would be Jamaica.
"I Liked the sheriff
but I did not Like his deputy..."