Free Expression
Free Expression
Free speech has long been a hallmark of a healthy democracy and a free society. The Internet and new communications technologies have become unprecedented tools for expanding the ability for individuals to speak and receive information, participate in political and democratic processes, and share knowledge and ideas. Recognizing the potential of these technologies, courts have extended the highest level of First Amendment protection to the Internet medium. Online free expression also requires that private online service providers be protected from legal liability for content posted by users, so they will be willing to host that speech.
CDT works to keep the Internet and communications technologies free of government censorship and content gatekeepers alike, and to extend the highest level of free speech protection afforded the Internet to all converged media. User choice and control over access to information are the key to protecting core First Amendment values while still addressing important social ills in the digital age. Through our advocacy, CDT seeks to maximize the ability of individuals to decide for themselves what they say, hear, publish, and access online.
Follow the latest CDT news with Press Releases, Events, and where we've been featured around the Internet.
| Name | Issues | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Shutdown of Blogging Site Sparks Dispute In the News: A free blogging site, Blogetery.com, went dark less than two weeks ago, and its disappearance is... |
7/20/2010 | |
|
FTC Panel Wrestles With Children's Privacy Law in Face of New Technologies In the News: Panelists at an FTC public meeting Wednesday in Washington struggled with applying the Children... |
6/3/2010 | |
|
John Morris will testify at a House Committe on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment Event: John Morris will testify at a House Committee on Homeland Security's Subcomittee on... |
International Free Expression | 5/26/2010 |
|
Corbett assailed over Twitter subpoena In the News: Fresh off his victory in Tuesday's Republican gubernatorial primary, Attorney General... |
5/21/2010 | |
|
Amazon Says Data Disclosure Will Invade Privacy on 'Massive Scale' Commentary: North Carolina tax collectors want Amazon.com to turn over the names, addresses and a full list of... |
More Issues in Free Expression | 4/22/2010 |
Policy Posts deliver in-depth analysis of current issues affecting the Internet. These documents are a leading resource for policy makers, the press, industry representatives, students, and others interested in legal and policy issues affecting the Internet.
| Name | Issues | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protecting Internet Platforms for Expression and Innovation | 1) Intermediaries Are Critical to the Success of the Internet 2) EU and U.S. Policies Protect... | 5/3/2010 | |
| CDT Urges Kentucky Courts to Reverse Course on Gambling Domain Name Seizures | In November, CDT, along with the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties... | 12/22/2008 | |
| CDT Joins Briefs Urging Courts to Properly Apply Section 230 of the CDA | On March 28, the Center for Democracy & Technology filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the... | Intermediary Liability and Section 230 | 3/31/2008 |
| Congressional Child Safety Bills Present Serious Constitutional Risks, and Some Opportunities for Effective Action | The current Congressional session has seen the introduction of an unprecedented number of bills... | 2/14/2008 | |
| CDT Files Brief Calling for the Overturning of COPA on Free Speech Grounds | Last week, in the most significant Internet free speech case since the Supreme Court struck down... | 11/9/2007 |
Find all our latest testimony, papers, and other reports here.
| Name | Author | Issues | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Supplemental Comments of CDT to the FTC on COPPA Comment: The Center for Democracy & Technology ("CDT") respectfully submits these supplemental... |
7/13/2010 | ||
|
Joint comments of CDT, PFF, and EFF to the FTC on COPPA Comment: The purpose of the COPPA Rule is to help parents control what information is collected online from... |
7/1/2010 | ||
|
CDT Individual Comments before the FTC on COPPA Comment: The COPPA Rule governing the collection of data from minors age twelve and under is one component... |
7/1/2010 | ||
|
Free Speech and Online Intermediaries in an Age of Terror Recruitment Testimony: Terrorism is a defining threat in our society today, and the use of any medium of communications... |
John Morris | More Issues in Free Expression | 5/26/2010 |
|
Intermediary Liability: Protecting Internet Platforms for Expression and Innovation Paper: This paper examines the impact of intermediary liability on free expression, privacy, and... |
4/27/2010 |