The complete record
196 incidents matching your filters.
July 2026
01June 2026
01May 2026
02Illinois data center activist arrested following protest organizing efforts
In May 2026, Dixon, Illinois resident Harley Delander was arrested and charged with felony intimidation and stalking after organizing opposition to a proposed data center project and communicating with former Illinois State Representative Tom Demmer, who was involved in local economic development efforts. Delander had created a Facebook event promoting a protest and sent communications regarding the project. Authorities alleged the communications contained threats that caused concern for the safety of Demmer and his family. Delander and his attorney argued the matter involved protected protest activity and raised First Amendment concerns.
Texas woman arrested after Facebook posts about discolored water supply
A Texas woman was arrested after posting videos and warnings on Facebook about discolored local water and encouraging residents to report similar concerns. Authorities alleged the posts caused public alarm. Charges were later dismissed, and the woman filed legal action against local officials and agencies involved.
March 2026
01January 2026
02Miami Beach resident questioned by police after Facebook comments criticizing mayor
Miami Beach resident and former political candidate Raquel Pacheco was visited and questioned by police after posting critical comments on Facebook regarding the city's mayor. Officers referenced concerns about the online comments during the interaction, which was recorded and later circulated publicly. The incident prompted criticism from civil liberties and free speech organizations.
FBI executes search warrant at home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson in classified-materials probe
On January 14, 2026, the FBI executed a search warrant at the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of unlawfully retaining and leaking classified materials. The Washington Post and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press condemned the action as an unprecedented use of search warrants against a working journalist.
December 2025
01April 2025
01March 2025
04Plainclothes federal agents arrest Tufts PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk on street
Plainclothes Department of Homeland Security agents arrested Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk on a Somerville, Massachusetts sidewalk on March 25, 2025 and transferred her to an ICE facility in Louisiana. Her visa had been revoked in connection with an op-ed she co-authored in the Tufts student newspaper about Israel-Gaza.
ICE detains Georgetown postdoctoral scholar Badar Khan Suri over social media speech
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, was arrested by ICE outside his Virginia home on March 17, 2025. DHS cited his social media activity and family connections, invoking the same foreign-policy removal provision used against Mahmoud Khalil.
Campus speech controversy involving pro-Palestinian student activism
Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and prominent participant in pro-Palestinian campus activism, became the center of a national controversy after immigration enforcement actions were initiated against him. Supporters argued the actions threatened protected political expression and student activism, while critics cited concerns unrelated to speech. The case sparked widespread debate regarding free expression, campus protest activity, immigration authority, and the limits of government action involving political advocacy.
ICE arrests Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil over pro-Palestinian campus activism
Department of Homeland Security agents arrested Columbia University graduate and lawful permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil at his university-owned apartment in New York on March 8, 2025, citing his prominent role in pro-Palestinian campus protests. He was transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana and the government invoked a rarely used foreign-policy removal provision.
February 2025
02Trump Signs Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms Representing Political Opponents
In early 2025, President Trump signed a series of executive orders suspending security clearances of and directing federal agencies to terminate contracts with law firms that had represented political adversaries or Trump critics, including firms that had employed Mueller investigation prosecutors — a move widely condemned as government coercion of legal advocacy.
DOGE and Administration Block USAID Staff and Journalists from Documenting Agency Closure
In February 2025, Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) operatives and the administration blocked USAID employees from accessing their offices, terminated contracts for thousands of foreign aid workers, and physically barred journalists from documenting the shutdown, raising First Amendment concerns about government suppression of newsgathering on agency closures.
January 2025
01December 2024
01October 2024
02Political meme creator prosecuted over false voting-by-text messages
Douglass Mackey, known online as 'Ricky Vaughn,' was prosecuted by federal authorities over social media memes posted during the 2016 presidential election. The memes falsely suggested that supporters of Hillary Clinton could vote by text message. Prosecutors argued the posts were part of a conspiracy to interfere with voting rights by deceiving voters. Supporters of Mackey argued the prosecution raised significant concerns regarding political satire, internet speech, and First Amendment protections. The case became one of the most widely discussed speech-related prosecutions of the social media era.
Houston Methodist sues Dr. Mary Talley Bowden for defamation over remdesivir allegations
In October 2024, Houston Methodist Hospital filed a defamation lawsuit in Harris County against Dr. Mary Talley Bowden and Americans for Health Freedom over public statements alleging the hospital's remdesivir protocols harmed or killed patients.
June 2024
02Missouri v. Biden challenges alleged government pressure on social media platforms
Missouri v. Biden was a major federal lawsuit alleging that government officials and agencies improperly pressured social media companies to remove, suppress, or limit certain speech on topics including COVID-19, election integrity, and public policy. Internal communications produced during litigation showed extensive contact between government officials and major technology platforms. Supporters of the lawsuit argued the communications amounted to unconstitutional government pressure on private companies, while government officials and platform representatives maintained the communications were intended to address misinformation and public safety concerns. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court as Murthy v. Missouri and became one of the most significant free speech cases of the social media era.
Biologist awarded over $500,000 after firing tied to Charlie Kirk social media posts
A biologist was terminated after making social media posts referencing conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Civil liberties advocates argued the firing violated protected speech rights and constituted retaliation over political expression. The case later resulted in a legal victory for the employee, with more than $500,000 awarded in damages connected to wrongful termination and free speech retaliation claims.
April 2024
01March 2024
05FBI visit to Oklahoma resident over Facebook posts about Israel-Gaza conflict
Oklahoma resident Rolla Abdeljawad said FBI agents visited her home regarding Facebook posts connected to political commentary about the Israel-Gaza conflict. Video of the interaction later circulated widely online after agents allegedly stated they conduct similar visits "every day, all day long." The incident sparked public debate over free speech, government monitoring of online activity, and whether lawful social media commentary should trigger law enforcement scrutiny.
Public dispute over speech leads to employment separation and legal conflict
Candace Owens and The Daily Wire publicly parted ways following months of disagreement involving social media posts, commentary regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict, religious expression, and broader political disputes. Following the separation, legal action was initiated regarding confidential business information and contractual obligations. Supporters argued the controversy highlighted risks associated with employment consequences for controversial speech, while others argued private organizations have discretion regarding public-facing representatives and workplace standards.
FBI Agents Visit Oklahoma Muslim Woman Over Pro-Palestinian Social Media Posts
On March 19, 2024, three FBI agents visited the home of Rolla Abdeljawad, a Muslim political lecturer in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to question her about her social media posts supporting Palestinian rights. She filmed the encounter, which went viral; her attorney called the visit an act of intimidation targeting protected First Amendment speech.
FBI arrests journalist Steve Baker over January 6 reporting from inside Capitol
Blaze Media reporter Steve Baker was arrested by the FBI in Dallas in March 2024 and charged with four misdemeanors stemming from his reporting inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Justice Department dismissed the charges in January 2025.
Bowden sues Texas Medical Board alleging retaliation for protected speech
In 2024 Dr. Mary Talley Bowden and Americans for Health Freedom sued the Texas Medical Board, alleging its investigation and complaint against her retaliated against protected speech and exceeded statutory authority in light of Texas off-label prescribing protections.
February 2024
01August 2023
03Georgia attorney general indicts 61 'Stop Cop City' activists under RICO statute
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr obtained a 109-page RICO indictment in August 2023 against 61 people associated with opposition to the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, citing protest activity, bail-fund organizing, and zine distribution as predicate acts. Civil liberties groups described it as the largest protest-related RICO case in U.S. history.
Ohio Medical Board suspends Dr. Sherri Tenpenny's license
The State Medical Board of Ohio suspended osteopathic physician Sherri Tenpenny's medical license in August 2023 after she declined to cooperate with an investigation triggered by her 2021 statehouse testimony about COVID-19 vaccines.
Texas Medical Board files formal complaint against Dr. Mary Talley Bowden
In 2023 the Texas Medical Board filed a formal complaint against Dr. Mary Talley Bowden alleging non-therapeutic prescribing of ivermectin for COVID-19 and dissemination of information contrary to medical consensus. The case was referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).
July 2023
02Coutts closes Nigel Farage's accounts; internal dossier prompts NatWest CEO resignation and UK debanking reform
In March 2023, Coutts — the private banking arm of NatWest Group — closed accounts held by Nigel Farage, the former UKIP and Brexit Party leader. The bank initially indicated to the BBC, via NatWest CEO Dame Alison Rose, that Farage had fallen below Coutts' wealth threshold. After Farage obtained a 40-page internal Wealth Reputational Risk Committee dossier through a Subject Access Request, The Telegraph published the document on July 19, 2023; it described Farage's public views as 'at odds with our values.' Dame Alison Rose resigned July 26, 2023; Coutts CEO Peter Flavel resigned days later. The UK Financial Conduct Authority opened a review and Parliament tightened bank account-closure rules.
JPMorgan Chase closes accounts of Dr. Joseph Mercola, his health company, and personal accounts of executives
On July 13, 2023, JPMorgan Chase notified Dr. Joseph Mercola — an osteopathic physician and natural-health retailer named in a 2021 report on COVID-19 vaccine 'misinformation' cited by the U.S. Surgeon General — that it was closing all of his business banking accounts, his company's investment accounts, and the personal accounts of his CEO and CFO and members of their families. Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis opened an inquiry; Chase responded by citing 'regulatory scrutiny' by federal authorities without further specifics.
June 2023
01March 2023
03Middle schooler told to remove 'There Are Only Two Genders' shirt
Liam Morrison, a seventh grader at John T. Nichols Middle School in Middleborough, Massachusetts, was told in March 2023 to remove a T-shirt reading 'There Are Only Two Genders.' Represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, he sued; the First Circuit ruled against him in 2024 and the Supreme Court declined review in 2025.
IRS agent visits journalist Matt Taibbi's home on day of congressional testimony
On March 9, 2023, independent journalist Matt Taibbi testified before the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government regarding the Twitter Files and government interactions with social media platforms. During the hearing, Taibbi disclosed that an IRS agent had visited his home the same day to discuss an unspecified tax matter. According to Taibbi, he learned of the visit while preparing for his congressional testimony. The timing of the visit quickly drew public attention and prompted questions from lawmakers. The IRS later stated that the visit was part of a routine effort to contact Taibbi regarding administrative matters and that it had been initiated before his testimony was scheduled. Members of Congress requested additional information about the circumstances surrounding the visit, while others questioned whether the timing created the appearance of government retaliation against a journalist testifying before Congress.
IRS Agent Visits Journalist Matt Taibbi's Home on Day He Testifies Before Congress
On March 9, 2023, the same day journalist Matt Taibbi testified before the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government about Twitter's content moderation practices, an IRS agent visited his New Jersey home. The House Judiciary Committee investigated the coincidence as potential retaliation.
January 2023
01December 2022
02Dr. Jay Bhattacharya trends-blacklisted by Twitter; later plaintiff in Murthy v. Missouri
Stanford epidemiologist and Great Barrington Declaration co-author Jay Bhattacharya was placed on a Twitter 'Trends Blacklist' revealed in the Twitter Files in December 2022. He joined Missouri v. Biden as a plaintiff.
Twitter Files released documenting internal moderation and government communications
Beginning on December 2, 2022, Twitter released a series of internal company documents and communications to independent journalists following Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform. The disclosures, collectively known as the "Twitter Files," included internal emails, moderation discussions, and communications between Twitter employees and outside entities, including government agencies. The releases generated widespread public debate regarding the relationship between government officials and private technology platforms, as well as the transparency and consistency of online content moderation practices.
October 2022
03JPMorgan Chase ends banking relationship with Kanye West and Yeezy amid wider business breakups
In October 2022, JPMorgan Chase formally notified Kanye West (Ye) that it was ending its banking relationship with him and his Yeezy brand. A copy of the termination letter was posted online by commentator Candace Owens. The Associated Press reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the breakup had been planned for weeks before West's early-October antisemitic social media posts. West's businesses simultaneously faced terminations from Adidas, Gap, Balenciaga, and CAA. Chase did not state a public reason; West and supporters initially characterized the closure as politically motivated, while the timing reported by AP complicates that framing.
Adjunct not rehired after showing classical image of Prophet Muhammad
Erika López Prater, an adjunct art-history instructor at Hamline University in Minnesota, was told her contract would not be renewed after she showed a 14th-century Persian painting of the Prophet Muhammad in an October 2022 class, despite advance warnings. The university president later acknowledged academic-freedom missteps and López Prater sued.
JPMorgan Chase closes National Committee for Religious Freedom account and requests donor list
In late spring 2022, JPMorgan Chase closed the bank account of the National Committee for Religious Freedom (NCRF), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit chaired by former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom and Kansas Governor Sam Brownback. According to Brownback, Chase later told the group that it could provide a donor list and other information for review — a demand NCRF declined. The episode was disclosed publicly in October 2022 and prompted a March 2023 letter from 19 state attorneys general to JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon.
September 2022
03FBI conducts armed raid on Pennsylvania pro-life activist Mark Houck's home
On September 23, 2022, FBI agents executed an arrest warrant at the suburban Philadelphia home of pro-life sidewalk counselor Mark Houck on FACE Act charges arising from a shoving incident at a Planned Parenthood. A federal jury acquitted him in January 2023.
PayPal closes Free Speech Union and Daily Sceptic accounts; controversial '$2,500 misinformation fine' policy withdrawn
On September 20, 2022, PayPal permanently limited accounts belonging to the UK-based Free Speech Union, the news site Daily Sceptic, and Toby Young's personal account, as well as accounts for the U.S. nonprofit Gays Against Groomers. Following backlash and political pressure from UK MPs, PayPal reinstated the Free Speech Union and Daily Sceptic on September 27. In early October 2022 a separately archived update to PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy included a provision authorizing fines of up to $2,500 per violation for promoting 'misinformation'; following further public backlash PayPal said the language had been included 'in error' and withdrew it.
Washington Medical Commission disciplines Dr. Ryan Cole over COVID statements
The Washington Medical Commission filed a Statement of Charges in 2022 against pathologist Ryan Cole for COVID-19 statements and off-label prescribing, resulting in a 2023 restriction on his ability to treat COVID patients.
June 2022
01May 2022
04Teen Removed from Fort Worth City Council Over Hair Length
A 17-year-old Air Force Academy appointee was ordered to leave a Fort Worth, Texas city council chambers on May 24, 2022 because his hair was over the ear, based on a decades-old dress code. Video went viral; Mayor Mattie Parker apologized and the city ended the enforcement.
Biden-era DOJ withdraws secret subpoena for Guardian US reporter Stephanie Kirchgaessner's phone records
In February 2021, the Biden-era U.S. Department of Justice issued a secret subpoena to The Guardian US bureau reporter Stephanie Kirchgaessner's mobile carrier, seeking call records in connection with a leak investigation tied to Trump-era child-separation policy reporting. The subpoena was publicly disclosed in May 2022 and ultimately abandoned under the July 2021 Garland media policy.
PayPal permanently closes accounts of Consortium News and MintPress News amid Ukraine war coverage
In late April and early May 2022, PayPal permanently limited the donation accounts of two independent left-leaning news outlets — Consortium News (founded in 1995 by the late AP and Newsweek journalist Robert Parry) and MintPress News — both of which had published coverage skeptical of mainstream Western narratives about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. PayPal initially indicated Consortium News could restore its account but later said the reversal was 'a mistake' and the ban was permanent. PayPal did not publicly specify which policies were violated.
American Board of Internal Medicine moves to revoke Dr. Peter McCullough's certification
The American Board of Internal Medicine notified cardiologist Peter McCullough in 2022 of proceedings to revoke his board certifications over public COVID-19 statements; Baylor Scott & White sued him in 2021 over use of his prior affiliation.
March 2022
01February 2022
01January 2022
05Georgetown Law investigation follows controversial social media post
Ilya Shapiro, a legal scholar and incoming administrator at Georgetown University Law Center, became the subject of a university investigation after posting controversial comments on social media regarding a Supreme Court nomination. The investigation and resulting controversy sparked a national debate over academic freedom, institutional responses to controversial speech, and the boundaries between personal expression and professional responsibilities. Shapiro later resigned from the university.
Mike Lindell says Minnesota Bank & Trust and Heartland Financial closed MyPillow and personal accounts citing 'reputation risk'
In January and February 2022, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell publicly stated that Heartland Financial USA and its subsidiary Minnesota Bank & Trust had asked him to close nine bank accounts — including accounts for three nonprofits — and ultimately terminated MyPillow's banking relationship. Lindell, a prominent promoter of 2020 election-fraud allegations who had been subpoenaed by the House January 6 Select Committee weeks earlier, said the bank cited 'reputation risk.' The bank did not publicly detail its reasons.
Dr. Aaron Kheriaty fired by UC Irvine over vaccine mandate lawsuit
UC Irvine School of Medicine terminated psychiatrist and bioethicist Aaron Kheriaty in 2022 after he sued challenging the university's COVID-19 vaccine mandate on natural-immunity grounds.
Twitter suspends Dr. Mary Talley Bowden's account over COVID-19 posts
In early 2022, Twitter suspended Dr. Mary Talley Bowden's account under its COVID-19 misinformation policy after posts about ivermectin and vaccine mandates. Her account was reinstated after Elon Musk acquired the platform in late 2022.
Maine suspends Dr. Meryl Nass's medical license over COVID prescriptions and statements
The Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine suspended Dr. Meryl Nass's license in January 2022 pending psychiatric evaluation, citing ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine prescriptions and public statements about COVID-19 vaccines.
December 2021
02Twitter permanently suspends Dr. Robert Malone over COVID-19 vaccine posts; reinstated under Musk in 2022
On December 29, 2021, Twitter permanently suspended Dr. Robert W. Malone, a physician and early mRNA researcher, citing its COVID-19 misleading-information policy. The suspension occurred the day before Malone's appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience (episode #1757). Malone said he had been suspended for raising what he characterized as legitimate scientific questions about pediatric vaccination. Malone's account was reinstated in December 2022 after Elon Musk ended Twitter's COVID misinformation policy.
Dr. Robert Malone permanently suspended from Twitter and LinkedIn
Virologist Robert Malone was permanently suspended from Twitter on December 29, 2021 and from LinkedIn earlier in 2021 for COVID-19 posts. His account was restored on X in 2022.
November 2021
07Houston Methodist suspends Dr. Mary Talley Bowden over ivermectin and vaccine-mandate tweets
On November 12, 2021, Houston Methodist Hospital publicly announced it had suspended ENT specialist Dr. Mary Talley Bowden's admitting privileges after she tweeted opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and said she was treating patients with ivermectin.
Dr. Joseph Mercola removed from major platforms and payment processors
Osteopathic physician Joseph Mercola had his Instagram account removed in November 2021, his content demonetized by YouTube, his email lists throttled by Mailchimp, and his access to services including PayPal restricted after being named in the 'Disinformation Dozen' report.
Dr. Paul Marik sues Sentara after being barred from prescribing COVID protocol
Critical-care physician Paul Marik sued Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in November 2021 after the hospital barred him from using ivermectin and other off-label treatments; he subsequently resigned.
Federal investigation and raids involving journalist James O'Keefe
Federal agents conducted searches connected to journalist James O'Keefe and Project Veritas during an investigation involving a diary reportedly connected to President Biden's daughter. Homes and devices associated with O'Keefe and others tied to the organization were searched as part of the inquiry. Civil liberties and press freedom advocates debated whether the actions represented legitimate investigative procedures or excessive government intrusion into journalistic activity and source gathering.
FBI raids Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe and associates in Ashley Biden diary investigation
On November 3 and 6, 2021, the FBI executed search warrants at the homes of Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe and two associates as part of an investigation into the alleged theft of Ashley Biden's diary. A grand jury subpoena was served on Project Veritas's counsel on November 4, 2021. A special master was appointed in December 2021 to review seized materials for journalistic and attorney-client privilege. The DOJ closed the investigation without charges on February 5, 2025.
FBI Raids Homes of Project Veritas Journalists Over Ashley Biden Diary
In November 2021, FBI agents raided the homes of Project Veritas journalists and founder James O'Keefe as part of a criminal investigation into how the organization obtained Ashley Biden's diary, seizing phones and other materials. Press freedom groups condemned the raids as an unconstitutional intrusion on protected newsgathering.
FBI seizes phone of journalist Cassandra Fairbanks in Project Veritas-linked probe
FBI agents executed a search warrant at the Maryland home of Gateway Pundit journalist Cassandra Fairbanks in November 2021 and seized her phone in connection with the federal investigation into who obtained Ashley Biden's diary. No charges were filed against Fairbanks.
October 2021
01September 2021
01August 2021
03Parents Removed from Gwinnett County School Board Meeting Over Masks
On August 19, 2021, Gwinnett County Public Schools board chair Everton Blair had multiple parents removed by police from a school-board meeting after they refused to wear masks or stop speaking past their allotted time during public comment on the district's mask mandate.
Woman Arrested at Round Rock ISD Board Meeting Over Mask Comment
On August 16, 2021, Round Rock ISD (Texas) trustees ordered the removal of parents Jeremy Story and Dustin Clark from a board meeting; both were arrested by district police and charged with hindrance of public duty. A judge later dismissed the charges and Story sued district officials under Section 1983.
North Carolina Parent Arrested for Trespassing at Buncombe County School Board Meeting
On August 12, 2021, Jason Aldag was arrested for second-degree trespass at a Buncombe County (NC) Board of Education meeting after refusing to wear a mask during public comment on the district's mask mandate.
July 2021
01June 2021
07Parent removed from school board meeting during public comment controversy
During a period of intense public debate over education policy, several Loudoun County School Board meetings became the focus of national attention after parents and community members were removed from meetings by law enforcement. Supporters of the removals argued that officials were maintaining order and enforcing meeting procedures. Critics argued that the actions risked suppressing lawful public participation and speech at government meetings.
Father arrested at Loudoun County school board meeting later cited in NSBA letter
Scott Smith was arrested for disorderly conduct at a June 22, 2021 Loudoun County, Virginia school board meeting after speaking about his daughter's assault. His arrest was among incidents cited in the National School Boards Association's September 2021 letter asking the federal government to treat threats against school officials as 'domestic terrorism.'
Father Scott Smith Arrested at Loudoun County School Board Meeting
Scott Smith was arrested and dragged out of a June 22, 2021 Loudoun County Public Schools board meeting after speaking about the sexual assault of his daughter in a school bathroom. His bloodied photo became a national symbol in the school-board protest debate; his disorderly conduct conviction was later vacated after Governor Youngkin pardoned him.
ADA-Complaint Mother Removed from Franklin (TN) School Board Meeting Over CRT Comments
Williamson County (Tennessee) parent Robin Steenman and other Moms for Liberty members were repeatedly gaveled down and threatened with removal at 2021 Williamson County Schools board meetings when raising objections to the Wit & Wisdom curriculum on First Amendment grounds; police were positioned at meetings and one speaker was escorted out.
Biden DOJ withdraws Trump-era secret subpoena for email records of four New York Times reporters
A grand jury subpoena and gag order initiated under the Trump administration sought email metadata from Google for four New York Times national security reporters: Matt Apuzzo, Adam Goldman, Eric Lichtblau, and Michael Schmidt. After Google resisted the gag order and the Times learned of the demand, the Biden DOJ withdrew the subpoena on June 5, 2021. The court quashed the order on June 4, 2021.
Meta formalizes two-year suspension of Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts
On June 4, 2021, Meta announced that former President Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts would be suspended for two years from January 7, 2021 — formalizing the previously indefinite ban imposed after the January 6 Capitol attack. The decision followed a May 2021 ruling by Meta's Oversight Board criticizing the indefinite suspension as 'standardless.' Trump's accounts were restored in February 2023 with new guardrails. Trump characterized the suspension as political censorship; Meta said his January 6–7 posts violated policies against incitement to violence.
Nicole Solas Threatened With Suit by NEA Affiliate After South Kingstown School Board Records Requests
Rhode Island parent Nicole Solas was threatened with a lawsuit by the National Education Association's state affiliate after she filed public-records requests and spoke at South Kingstown school board meetings about curriculum. She sued and reached a settlement; the ACLU criticized the union's tactics as retaliation for protected speech.
May 2021
02Trump-era DOJ secretly seized phone and email records of CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr under 10-month gag order
In July 2020, the Trump-era U.S. Department of Justice secretly obtained phone toll records and email metadata for CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr covering June 1 – July 31, 2017. A § 2705(b) gag order barred CNN's general counsel from informing the newsroom for approximately 10 months. CNN challenged the orders in sealed proceedings in the Eastern District of Virginia. The gag lifted May 13, 2021; CNN disclosed the seizure publicly on May 20, 2021.
Trump-era DOJ secretly seized phone records of three Washington Post reporters; disclosed May 2021
The Trump-era U.S. Department of Justice in 2020 obtained, via secret grand jury subpoena, the phone toll records of Washington Post national security reporters Ellen Nakashima, Greg Miller, and Adam Entous for the period April 15 – July 31, 2017. The DOJ also obtained a § 2703(d) court order for email metadata but stated it did not actually retrieve those email records. The Post was notified May 3, 2021 and publicly disclosed the seizure May 7, 2021.
April 2021
01March 2021
01February 2021
03Instagram permanently bans Robert F. Kennedy Jr. account citing vaccine misinformation
On February 11, 2021, Instagram (Meta) permanently banned the account of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (@robertfkennedyjr), citing repeated sharing of debunked claims about COVID-19 and vaccines. Kennedy, an attorney and head of the nonprofit Children's Health Defense, described the action as suppression of scientific debate. His Facebook page was later removed. Meta declined to reinstate the accounts when Kennedy ran for U.S. president in 2023–2024. He remained off Instagram as of this writing.
Twitter permanently suspends Project Veritas and founder James O'Keefe; both restored after 2022 Musk acquisition
On February 11, 2021, Twitter permanently suspended the organizational account of Project Veritas, citing its private-information policy after the group published video filmed at the home of a Facebook executive. On April 15, 2021, Twitter separately suspended founder James O'Keefe's personal account, alleging he had 'operated fake accounts' — a claim O'Keefe denied and made the basis of a defamation lawsuit in New York state court. Both accounts were restored after Elon Musk's October 2022 Twitter acquisition.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed from Instagram over vaccine posts
Instagram permanently removed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s personal account in February 2021 for repeated claims about vaccine safety. His Children's Health Defense organization was later removed from Facebook and Instagram in August 2022.
January 2021
04Florida man arrested by FBI over anti-militia Facebook and Instagram posts after Jan. 6
Daniel Baker, an Air Force veteran in Tallahassee, was arrested by FBI agents on January 15, 2021 after posting online a 'call to arms' urging counter-protesters to confront armed right-wing demonstrators expected at state capitols. He was convicted of transmitting threats under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) and sentenced to 44 months.
Stripe terminates payment processing for Trump campaign after January 6 Capitol attack
On approximately January 10–11, 2021, the payment processor Stripe stopped handling transactions for the Donald J. Trump for President campaign, citing violations of policies prohibiting the encouragement or incitement of violence in connection with the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The termination was one of a wave of platform actions against Trump that week. Trump and supporters characterized the coordinated actions as political censorship of a sitting U.S. president.
Amazon Web Services, Apple, and Google remove Parler in days following January 6 Capitol attack
Between January 8 and January 11, 2021, Google removed Parler from the Play Store, Apple removed it from the App Store, and Amazon Web Services terminated its hosting agreement, taking the platform offline. The companies cited inadequate moderation of content that encouraged or incited the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Parler CEO John Matze called it 'a coordinated attack by the tech giants to kill competition.' An antitrust lawsuit by Parler against Amazon was dismissed in 2021. Parler returned online February 15, 2021 on alternative infrastructure.
Major social media platforms suspend sitting U.S. President's accounts
Following the events of January 6, 2021, multiple major social media platforms suspended or restricted the accounts of then-President Donald Trump. Twitter permanently suspended his account, while Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms imposed suspensions or restrictions of varying lengths. Supporters of the actions argued the platforms were enforcing policies intended to prevent violence and maintain public safety. Critics argued the removals represented an unprecedented restriction of access to major digital communication platforms for a sitting elected official and raised concerns about the power of private technology companies over political speech and public discourse.
December 2020
04Visa and Mastercard suspend payments to Pornhub following New York Times investigation
On December 10, 2020, Mastercard and Visa announced they were ceasing card-payment processing for Pornhub after a New York Times investigation by Nicholas Kristof alleged the platform hosted child sexual abuse material and non-consensual content. Pornhub's parent company MindGeek responded by removing approximately 10 million unverified user-uploaded videos. Critics including digital rights groups raised concerns about payment processors functioning as extrajudicial content regulators while welcoming action against illegal material.
Supreme Court rules unanimously in Tanzin v. Tanvir that Muslim men placed on No Fly List after refusing to inform on mosques can seek damages
On December 10, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously (8-0, Justice Thomas writing) in Tanzin v. Tanvir that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act permits money-damages suits against federal officials in their individual capacities. The plaintiffs — Muhammad Tanvir, Jameel Algibhah, and Naveed Shinwari — alleged they were placed or kept on the No Fly List in retaliation for refusing to act as FBI informants in Muslim communities. On remand in 2023, the FBI agents were granted qualified immunity, a ruling affirmed by the Second Circuit in October 2024.
Dr. Pierre Kory and FLCCC videos removed from YouTube
Pulmonologist Pierre Kory's December 2020 U.S. Senate testimony on ivermectin was removed from YouTube; his Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) had multiple videos deleted and its channel restricted.
Sharyl Attkisson Testifies to Senate Homeland Security Committee on Government Surveillance of Journalists
On December 3, 2020, Sharyl Attkisson testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at a hearing on 'Examining Irregularities in the 2020 Election' and related surveillance issues, describing her own experience with alleged government computer intrusions and urging Congress to strengthen protections for journalists against warrantless federal surveillance.
October 2020
03Phoenix police and prosecutors charge protesters as 'street gang' over anti-police speech
Phoenix Police Department officers and Maricopa County prosecutors charged at least 15 racial-justice protesters in October 2020 as members of a criminal 'street gang' called ACAB, citing chants, clothing, and social-media posts. A judge dismissed the gang allegations in 2021 and an internal investigation found misconduct.
Twitter and Facebook restrict sharing of New York Post Hunter Biden laptop story; Twitter later admits 'mistake'
On October 14, 2020, Twitter blocked the URL of a New York Post article reporting on emails purportedly obtained from a laptop linked to Hunter Biden, citing its 'hacked materials' policy, and locked the Post's official account when it refused to delete its tweets. Facebook simultaneously throttled the story's distribution pending fact-checker review. Twitter reversed the URL block within 48 hours, and CEO Jack Dorsey later called the action a 'total mistake.' The Twitter Files released in December 2022 produced internal communications about the decision.
NIH Director Francis Collins urges 'quick and devastating takedown' of Great Barrington Declaration
An October 8, 2020 email from NIH Director Francis Collins to NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, later obtained through FOIA, called for a 'quick and devastating published takedown' of the Great Barrington Declaration authored by Bhattacharya, Kulldorff, and Gupta.
July 2020
01June 2020
01March 2020
01January 2020
03Filmmaker Rod Webber arrested multiple times while filming presidential campaigns
Documentary filmmaker Rod Webber was arrested at campaign events in New Hampshire and Iowa in 2019-2020 while attempting to film and question candidates. Charges were repeatedly dismissed, and a federal court allowed his First Amendment retaliation claims to proceed.
Attkisson Amended Complaint Names Rod Rosenstein and Alleged DOJ-Linked Informant Ryan White as Computer-Intrusion Defendants
In amended filings between 2017 and 2020, Sharyl Attkisson expanded her federal surveillance lawsuit to name former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Shaun Bridges (a former Secret Service agent later convicted in the Silk Road case), and cited sworn declarations from Ryan White, a former DOJ-linked informant, describing government-directed monitoring of her communications. Litigation continued in Maryland federal and state courts.
Trump DOJ Secretly Seizes Phone Records of Four New York Times Reporters
The Trump Justice Department secretly obtained the phone records of four New York Times national security reporters — Matt Apuzzo, Adam Goldman, Eric Lichtblau, and Michael Schmidt — as part of a leak investigation, the newspaper disclosed in June 2021 when the Biden DOJ notified the reporters.
November 2019
01December 2018
02Patreon bans commentator Carl Benjamin ('Sargon of Akkad') for off-platform speech; major creators leave in protest
On December 13, 2018, Patreon permanently banned British YouTuber Carl Benjamin, known as 'Sargon of Akkad,' citing its hate-speech policy and an off-platform video in which Benjamin used a racial slur in a rhetorical exchange with a white-nationalist group. Patreon said it had applied its policies consistently. Benjamin and a cohort of supporters — including Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and Dave Rubin — disputed the application and several publicly left the platform; Harris and Rubin later co-founded the competing service Locals.
High school French teacher fired for refusing to use male pronouns
Peter Vlaming, a French teacher at West Point High School in Virginia, was fired in December 2018 after declining on religious grounds to use male pronouns for a transgender student. He sued the school board; in 2023 the Virginia Supreme Court reinstated his claims, and the district settled for $575,000 in 2024.
October 2018
01August 2018
01June 2018
01April 2018
02North Carolina man arrested by FBI over threatening tweet at Rep. John Lewis
Joseph Cecil Vandevere of Black Mountain, North Carolina was arrested by the FBI in April 2018 for a tweet directed at Rep. John Lewis depicting a lynching image and the words 'TRAITORS & TRECHEROUS [sic] SNAKES … NEED A BULLET.' He was convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) and sentenced to four months in prison.
Teacher told 10-year-old her religious project on Jesus was not allowed
Erin Shead, a fifth grader at Lucy Elementary School in Memphis, Tennessee, was told by her teacher in 2018 that her 'idol' assignment about Jesus Christ and her accompanying poster were not permitted at school. After local news coverage and a district review, officials reversed course and apologized.
March 2018
01January 2018
02Kansas teacher challenges anti-boycott certification requirement
Kansas public school teacher Esther Koontz challenged a state law that required certain government contractors to certify they were not participating in boycotts of Israel as a condition of receiving state contracts. Koontz argued the requirement violated her First Amendment rights by conditioning government employment and contracting opportunities on political expression and association. A federal court issued an injunction against enforcement of the law as applied in the case, and Kansas later revised portions of the statute.
Philosophy professor disciplined for refusing student's preferred pronouns
Nicholas Meriwether, a philosophy professor at Shawnee State University in Ohio, was formally warned in 2018 after declining on religious grounds to address a transgender student with the student's preferred title. The Sixth Circuit ruled in 2021 that he could pursue First Amendment claims; the university settled for $400,000.
December 2017
01June 2017
02Reality Winner prosecuted for leaking NSA election-hacking document to The Intercept; no journalist subpoena issued
On June 3, 2017, NSA contractor Reality Winner was arrested for leaking a classified NSA document about Russian military intelligence attempts to hack U.S. election systems. The Intercept published the document on June 5, 2017. The FBI identified Winner partly through forensic analysis of the printed document. No journalist was subpoenaed in connection with the investigation.
Trump DOJ Secretly Seizes CNN Pentagon Reporter Barbara Starr's Email and Phone Records
The Trump Justice Department secretly obtained two months of phone and email records for CNN national security correspondent Barbara Starr in 2017 as part of a leak investigation, CNN disclosed in June 2021 — the same week the Biden DOJ revealed similar seizures targeting New York Times and Washington Post reporters.
May 2017
01January 2017
01October 2016
01September 2016
01July 2016
01March 2016
01October 2015
01August 2015
01July 2015
01June 2015
01January 2015
03DOJ revises 28 C.F.R. § 50.10 media guidelines in response to AP and Rosen scandals
Between July 2013 and January 2015, in response to public outcry over the AP phone records seizure and the James Rosen search warrant, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a comprehensive revision of 28 C.F.R. § 50.10. The revised guidelines prohibited labeling journalists as criminal co-conspirators solely to circumvent the Privacy Protection Act, required senior DOJ approval for media subpoenas and warrants, and mandated advance notice to news organizations except in narrow exceptions.
Obama DOJ pursues seven-year subpoena fight to compel NYT reporter James Risen to testify against CIA source
Beginning in April 2010, the Obama Department of Justice issued grand jury and trial subpoenas to New York Times reporter James Risen seeking to compel his testimony in the prosecution of former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling for the leak of details about a CIA operation targeting Iran's nuclear program. Risen refused throughout. The Fourth Circuit ruled against him in 2013; the Supreme Court denied certiorari in 2014. AG Eric Holder ultimately announced in January 2015 that the DOJ would not call Risen to testify.
Attkisson v. Holder: Journalist Sues Attorney General and Federal Officials Over Alleged Government Computer Intrusion
On January 5, 2015, Sharyl Attkisson and her family filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against then-Attorney General Eric Holder, then-Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, and unnamed federal agents, alleging that the Justice Department had unlawfully intruded into her home computers and telephones in retaliation for her reporting.
December 2014
01October 2014
01August 2014
01June 2014
03Latif v. Holder ruling holds DHS no-fly list redress process constitutionally inadequate
On June 30, 2010, the ACLU filed Latif v. Holder in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon on behalf of 15 American Muslim plaintiffs — including U.S. Marine veteran Ayman Latif — who had been denied boarding on flights and were unable to clear their status through the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP). The Ninth Circuit (686 F.3d 1122) ruled in 2012 that the no-fly list significantly burdened liberty and triggered due-process protections. In 2014, U.S. District Judge Anna Brown held that the existing TRIP process was constitutionally inadequate; the government subsequently revised its procedures.
Illinois DCFS Retains Custody of Isaiah Rider After Mother's Facebook Advocacy Cited by Hospital
In June 2014, Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago reported Michelle Rider to Illinois DCFS for 'medical child abuse' after she sought a second opinion for her son Isaiah's neurofibromatosis-related pain. Court and hospital filings referenced Michelle Rider's public Facebook posts and media interviews as part of the basis for continued state custody. Isaiah was returned to family custody in 2015.
Valedictorian's references to God removed from graduation speech
Brooks Hamby, valedictorian at Brawley Union High School in California, had three drafts of his 2014 graduation speech rejected by administrators who struck religious references. He delivered remarks that included thanks to God anyway; the Pacific Justice Institute sent a demand letter, and the district later acknowledged the restrictions exceeded what the law required.
May 2014
01April 2014
01March 2014
01January 2014
01October 2013
01July 2013
01June 2013
02CBS News Confirms Sharyl Attkisson's Work Computer Was Repeatedly Breached During Benghazi and Fast-and-Furious Reporting
On June 14, 2013, CBS News issued a public statement confirming that a forensic examination of investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson's work laptop found evidence of unauthorized external intrusions in late 2012, while she was reporting on Benghazi and the ATF 'Fast and Furious' gun-walking scandal. Attkisson said a separate forensic analysis of her personal computer also showed intrusions consistent with government-grade spyware.
Valedictorian tore up approved speech to recite the Lord's Prayer
Roy Costner IV, valedictorian at Liberty High School in Pickens County, South Carolina, ripped up his pre-approved graduation speech in June 2013 and recited the Lord's Prayer instead, after the district had recently ended formal prayer at board meetings under threat of suit. The district said it would not punish him.
May 2013
04Justice Department leak investigation targets Fox News reporter
In 2013, it was revealed that the U.S. Department of Justice had obtained records related to Fox News reporter James Rosen as part of a leak investigation. Court filings described Rosen as a possible 'co-conspirator' in the effort to obtain classified information from a government source. The disclosure sparked widespread concern among journalists, civil liberties advocates, and media organizations, who argued the investigation could have a chilling effect on investigative reporting and confidential source relationships. Government officials maintained the investigation was focused on unauthorized disclosure of classified information rather than routine journalism.
Obama DOJ obtains search warrant for Fox News reporter James Rosen's email by labeling him a criminal 'co-conspirator'
On May 28, 2010, the FBI obtained a federal search warrant for the personal Gmail account of Fox News reporter James Rosen by asserting probable cause in a sworn affidavit that Rosen himself had violated the Espionage Act as a 'co-conspirator' for soliciting a leak from State Department contractor Stephen Jin-Woo Kim. The warrant was executed secretly; it became public in May 2013. AG Eric Holder personally approved the warrant.
Obama DOJ secretly seizes two months of phone records from 20 Associated Press reporters and editors
In April–May 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice secretly subpoenaed two months of telephone records from at least 20 Associated Press reporters and editors across five AP offices. The seizure was disclosed publicly on May 13, 2013, when AP CEO Gary Pruitt called it a 'massive and unprecedented intrusion' into newsgathering. The investigation concerned an AP story revealing a CIA operation in Yemen.
Massachusetts high schooler charged with terrorism for rap lyrics on Facebook
Methuen, Massachusetts high school senior Cameron D'Ambrosio was arrested in May 2013 and charged with communicating terroristic threats after posting original rap lyrics on Facebook that referenced the Boston Marathon bombing. A grand jury declined to indict and he was released after about a month in jail.
March 2013
01February 2013
02Massachusetts DCF Takes Custody of Justina Pelletier; Court Imposes Gag Order After Parents' Media Advocacy
In February 2013, Boston Children's Hospital reported the Pelletier family to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families after they sought to transfer their 14-year-old daughter Justina to Tufts, where she had previously been treated for mitochondrial disease. DCF took custody, and after her parents Lou and Linda Pelletier began speaking publicly to the press about the case, a juvenile court judge imposed a gag order on the father; violating it, he was found in contempt. Justina was held in state custody for roughly 16 months.
Texas teen jailed for months over sarcastic Facebook comment about video game
Austin teenager Justin Carter was arrested in February 2013 and held in jail for nearly five months on a terroristic threat charge after a sarcastic Facebook comment made during an argument over the video game League of Legends. The comment was followed by 'lol' and 'jk.' Charges were eventually dismissed in 2018.
August 2012
01September 2011
01July 2011
01June 2011
01March 2011
01February 2011
01December 2010
02DOJ obtains sealed Stored Communications Act orders for Twitter records of WikiLeaks-associated journalists and activists
On December 14, 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice obtained a sealed § 2703(d) court order in the Eastern District of Virginia directing Twitter to produce subscriber information, connection records, and IP addresses for accounts associated with WikiLeaks, including Julian Assange, Chelsea (then Bradley) Manning, journalist-activist Jacob Appelbaum, Icelandic parliamentarian Birgitta Jónsdóttir, and Dutch hacker Rop Gonggrijp. The order was accompanied by a gag order; Twitter successfully moved to unseal it.
PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard suspend payments to WikiLeaks following Cablegate release
Beginning December 3, 2010, days after WikiLeaks began publishing approximately 250,000 classified U.S. State Department diplomatic cables, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Bank of America, and Western Union severed donation processing for the organization. PayPal acknowledged its decision followed a State Department letter characterizing WikiLeaks' activity as illegal. WikiLeaks said donations dropped by approximately 95%. WikiLeaks' Icelandic payment processor DataCell filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission, which concluded in 2014 that the processors had not violated EU competition rules.
November 2010
01January 2010
01May 2009
01January 2009
01September 2008
01February 2008
01July 2007
01April 2007
02Student barred from class office for off-campus blog post
Avery Doninger, a junior at Lewis S. Mills High School in Burlington, Connecticut, was barred in 2007 from running for senior class secretary after writing a home-computer blog post calling administrators 'douchebags' over the rescheduling of a school event. The Second Circuit upheld the school's action.
Criminology professor denied promotion over conservative columns
Mike Adams, a tenured criminology professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, was denied promotion to full professor in 2006 after publishing conservative opinion columns. The Fourth Circuit ruled in 2011 that his columns were protected speech; a jury found retaliation, and he received roughly $700,000 in damages, back pay, and fees.
September 2006
01August 2006
02Freelance journalist Josh Wolf jailed 226 days for refusing to turn over G8 protest video to federal grand jury
On August 1, 2006, U.S. District Judge William Alsup jailed San Francisco freelance video journalist Josh Wolf for contempt after he refused to turn over unaired video footage of a 2005 G8-summit protest to a federal grand jury investigating injury to a police officer and damage to a federally funded police vehicle. Wolf was released April 3, 2007 after 226 days — the longest U.S. journalist contempt incarceration on record at the time — when he agreed to post his footage publicly and the government withdrew its demand for source-identification testimony.
Josh Wolf Jailed 226 Days for Refusing to Hand Over Protest Video
San Francisco freelance journalist and blogger Josh Wolf spent 226 days in federal prison — the longest any U.S. journalist had been jailed for protecting source material — after refusing a grand jury subpoena for unedited video footage he had shot of a 2005 G8 protest where a police car was damaged.
June 2006
01May 2006
01December 2005
02Student suspended for off-campus MySpace parody of principal
Justin Layshock, a senior at Hickory High School in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, was suspended in 2005 and placed in an alternative-education program after creating a fake MySpace profile of his principal from his grandmother's computer. The Third Circuit ruled in 2011 that the school violated his First Amendment rights.
Student suspended for off-campus MySpace page mocking classmate
Kara Kowalski, a senior at Musselman High School in Berkeley County, West Virginia, was suspended for five days in 2005 after creating a MySpace group from her home computer ridiculing a classmate. The Fourth Circuit upheld the discipline in 2011, finding the speech created a foreseeable substantial disruption.
July 2005
02New York Times reporter Judith Miller jailed 85 days for refusing to testify in CIA leak investigation
On July 6, 2005, U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan jailed New York Times reporter Judith Miller for contempt after she refused to identify her source to Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald's grand jury investigating the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity. Miller was released after 85 days on September 29, 2005, after her source I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby provided a personal waiver. Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper also faced contempt; he testified after his source Karl Rove released him.
Judith Miller Jailed 85 Days for Refusing to Identify Plame Source
New York Times reporter Judith Miller was jailed for 85 days in 2005 after refusing to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the leak of CIA officer Valerie Plame's identity. Miller had not even written about Plame, but the Bush-era DOJ subpoenaed her anyway, making her incarceration one of the most prominent reporter-contempt cases in U.S. history.
December 2004
01November 2004
01September 2004
01August 2004
02Senator Ted Kennedy repeatedly stopped at airports after name match with terror watch list alias
In March 2004, U.S. Senator Edward M. 'Ted' Kennedy (D-MA) was stopped and questioned at airports on at least five occasions when attempting to board US Airways shuttle flights between Washington and Boston, because his name matched an alias used by an individual on the federal selectee list. Kennedy disclosed the incidents during an August 19, 2004 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, illustrating the difficulty ordinary travelers faced contesting watchlist designations. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge personally cleared Kennedy's name, and Congress later included a statutory redress requirement in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.
Five reporters held in contempt and fined in Wen Ho Lee Privacy Act civil suit; case settled for $750,000
In August 2004, U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson held five federal reporters in contempt and ordered $500-per-day fines for refusing to identify their government sources in Wen Ho Lee's Privacy Act civil lawsuit against the Department of Justice. Affected reporters included Walter Pincus (Washington Post), H. Josef Hebert (Associated Press), Robert Drogin (Los Angeles Times), Pierre Thomas (ABC News), and James Risen (New York Times). The case settled June 2, 2006, with media organizations collectively paying Lee approximately $750,000; contempt orders were vacated.
April 2004
01January 2004
01May 2003
01February 2003
01August 2002
01January 2002
03Student suspended for 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' banner at school event
Joseph Frederick, an 18-year-old senior at Juneau-Douglas High School in Alaska, was suspended in 2002 after unfurling a 14-foot banner reading 'BONG HiTS 4 JESUS' across the street from school during the Olympic Torch Relay. The Supreme Court ruled 5–4 in 2007 that school officials could restrict speech reasonably viewed as promoting illegal drug use.
Sami Al-Arian Fired from USF Under Government Pressure
University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian was suspended and then fired in January 2002 after the university cited safety concerns following his pro-Palestinian public statements and an appearance on The O'Reilly Factor. Civil liberties groups argued the termination was unconstitutional viewpoint-based retaliation enabled by post-9/11 government pressure.
NYPD Demographics Unit Conducts Suspicionless Surveillance of Muslim Communities
From at least 2002 through 2014, the NYPD's secret Intelligence Division — aided by CIA officers embedded in the department — mapped and monitored Muslim communities, mosques, student groups, and businesses across New York and surrounding states without any predicate of criminal suspicion, creating a chilling effect on religious speech and association.