Aggregator

Architectural Statements – a juried art exhibit. There is more to architecture than just buildings. See how local artists share their vision of structures, monuments, buildings and more which are

The post Architectural Statements II appeared first on Explore St. Louis.

United States Supreme Court

David, via Flickr, CC BY 2.0

Journalists concerned that two highly anticipated Supreme Court rulings might cause online platforms to censor news content can breathe a temporary sigh of relief. In Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh, the court sided with social media companies in a legal battle about online terrorist content and declined to reinterpret Section 230, the federal law that shields online services from legal liability for posts made by their users.

Section 230 is sometimes portrayed as a boon for tech giants, but in reality, it’s an important free expression protection for countless websites, including pretty much all news outlets, as well as internet users, including journalists. While the decisions are a good outcome for journalists, other cases pending before the court, as well as several bills in Congress, continue to threaten online speech.

Both Gonzalez and Taamneh were about whether online platforms can be held liable under the Anti-Terrorism Act for aiding and abetting terrorist acts carried out by ISIS. The plaintiffs’ basic theory was that Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube should be liable because they allow ISIS to use their services, recommend ISIS content to other users, and fail to take enough steps to remove ISIS content. Thankfully, the court ruled on both cases while sidestepping Section 230 entirely.

What does this mean for the press? First, the court’s decision not to touch the current interpretation of Section 230 (at least for now) is good for journalists and news organizations. Section 230 fosters free expression by shielding online services from liability for the things their users say. For journalists, in particular, the law protects their ability to use the internet to publish news reports and seek out newsworthy information. Without Section 230, online services could be held liable for the things their users say, and they wouldn’t risk hosting controversial content or content that could potentially get them sued. As a result, platforms would over-remove users’ content, including content by journalists.

A platform might remove news reports about powerful or wealthy (and litigious) figures, for example, for fear of being sued themselves and drawn into lengthy and expensive litigation. The over-removal of content would also make it harder for journalists to find information online. For instance, the #MeToo movement, and all of the investigative reporting it spurred, may never have gotten off the ground if Twitter removed user’s posts because it was worried about its own potential liability for defamation. Section 230 also protects journalists and news outlets directly when, for example, they retweet someone or operate a comments section on their website.

Second, the court also decided in Taamneh that the plaintiffs’ claims weren’t enough to create liability under the Anti-Terrorism Act. That’s good news for news outlets who cover terrorists and terrorism. During the oral argument, Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked whether CNN’s 1997 interview with Osama bin Laden that al-Qaeda used as “tool for recruiting” would have made CNN liable for aiding and abetting the Sept. 11 attacks under the plaintiffs’ theory. As wild as it is to think that a news interview could be considered aiding and abetting terrorists, the plaintiffs’ attorney had a hard time answering that question, ultimately saying that “the First Amendment is going to solve that.”

The court’s decision in Taamneh seems to put to rest any question about aiding and abetting liability for news reporting about terrorism, because the court said a defendant can be held liable for aiding and abetting under the ATA only if it “consciously and culpably” participates in a wrongful act in order to help “make it succeed.”

The court’s decisions leave in place the current interpretations of the law that largely protect online speech, including by reporters. But the threat to Section 230 and online speech by reporters and others isn’t over. Some justices have written that Section 230 should be significantly limited, Congress has proposed numerous bills to repeal or limit Section 230, and the Biden administration has also been critical of the law. In addition, the court is likely to take up two other cases in the next term, NetChoice v. Paxton and Moody v. NetChoice, in which it could reinterpret Section 230 and First Amendment protections for online speech more broadly, with potentially significant ramifications for the press.

As they consider changes to or interpretations of the law, both Congress and the Supreme Court must prioritize the rights of journalists and other users to speak and find information online. Gonzalez and Taamneh may be behind us, but journalists, news outlets, and free speech advocates are in for a long road ahead to protect free expression online.

There’s nothing like watching a live-action remake of a Disney animated movie to remind you how much times have changed. The Little Mermaid, the Mouse Factory’s latest redo of a beloved cartoon classic, manages to be an even safer update of the G-rated original, which already took Hans Christian Andersen’s sad fairy tale and made it a family-friendly love story by adding some peppy Howard Ashman-Alan Menken tunes and capping it off with a positive outcome. The 1989 Mermaid is a quietly horny, coming-of-age film, with its busty, teenage sea creature getting the itch to be above land, mostly to get closer to the human prince she saved after a shipwreck.

The Supreme Court's limit to water regulations may affect the river. Justice Brett Kavanaugh pointed to the Mississippi River as an example.

Her coochie pink, her booty hole brown, her rhymes so fire she got Nikki Minaj to slam down. If the above sentence makes no sense to you, do yourself a favor and check out St. Louis rapper Sexyy Red's breakout hit "Pound Town." The pearl-clutching lyrics to this throwdown were enough to make Sexyy Red a viral sensation — and enough to grab the attention of Nicki Minaj.

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- A semi truck crash closed westbound I-270 at around 10:30 a.m. near I-55 at Edwardsville. Traffic is backing up in the area. Illinois State Police say that the crash involved two trucks. One truck-tractor rolled onto its side across the westbound lanes, spilling its load onto the interstate. Traffic is being diverted [...]

Roger Waters is facing even more trouble because of his current This Is Not A Drill tour. As previously reported, Waters has been getting backlash for his recent Berlin concert for the use…

Source

It's inflation day, and the news is once again so-so: Both core and headline PCE inflation clocked in at around 4.5%, though the headline rate continues to be considerably lower on a trendline basis. Overall, though, it was mostly sideways movement in April. PCE inflation has stayed pretty steady since the end of last year. ...continue reading "Inflation holds steady in April"

Elon Musk has insisted that “transparency is the key to trust” in rebuilding Twitter in his image. He says it all the time. But, of course, under Musk, Twitter has been significantly less transparent, choosing to skip its transparency reports, and generally close itself off. But one of the key methods for transparency on Twitter […]

At risk of dropping their first series in a surge that followed a historically-slow start, the St. Louis Cardinals embarked on a four-game series finale Thursday without three notable veterans - Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras - in the lineup.

Families are still owed benefits designed to cover groceries for food nearly one year ago.

After a Unity Walk for Ralph Yarl in North Kansas City, Alicia Keys surprised Staley High School students with a trip to her St. Louis concert.

GREENVILLE - The following students were placed on the Dean's List at Greenville University for the Spring 2023 semester. Alton, IL Elizabeth Sutton, senior Bethalto, IL Megan Belangee, senior Janie Edel, senior Carrollton, IL Hannah Stringer, senior East Alton, IL Bryan Copeland, senior Stephanie Kamp, senior Edwardsville, IL Madelyn Stephen, senior Glen Carbon, IL Hannah Beck, senior Godfrey, IL Hope Wind, senior Granite City, IL Grace Phillips, senior Jerseyville, IL Kaylee Fisher, senior Molly Heitzig, senior Samantha Tallman, senior Wood River, IL Chance Foss, senior Jacey Trask, junior To qualify for the Greenville University Dean's List, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 12 hours for the semester. Freshmen (0-29.5 credits) must have a semester GPA of 3.5 or above. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors must have a semester GPA of 3.7 or above. Greenville University is an accredited Christian liberal arts

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging young Illinois photographers to submit photos for the 2023 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest so they can be eligible to receive scholarship prize money. The contest, for students ages 8 to 18, offers an opportunity for young people to display their skills and imagination to highlight agriculture in our state. The Treasurer’s Office is accepting electronic submissions for the contest until the entry deadline of June 12. Bright Start scholarship funds will be awarded to the top winners in each of the three age categories. First-place winners will receive $1,000, second-place winners will receive $500, and third-place winners will receive $250. “Our 2023 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest provides a great way for students to showcase their creativity and to help others appreciate the strength, diversity, and beauty of Illinois’ rich agricultural landscape,” Frerichs said. “We encourage all

Continue Reading

An Endangered Person Advisory has been issued for a St. Louis County man. Tristan Baumer, 25, was last seen Thursday driving a U-Haul truck. He left after an argument with some family members, has mental disabilities, and may be armed with a kitchen knife.

Go Greek this weekend! For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the St. Louis County Greek Festival is in-person at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Des Peres.   The

The post St. Louis County Greek Festival appeared first on Explore St. Louis.

Meditating on the passage of time, the show presents work that is a result of the inevitable interplay between an artist’s solitary workings in her studio and those of a

The post Yvette Drury Dubinsky: Traveling appeared first on Explore St. Louis.