Court Halts CDA!
William Langham (blangham@westnet.com)
Wed, 12 Jun 1996 22:14:34 -0400 (EDT)
On Wed, 12 Jun 1996, Bob Palacios wrote:
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> Citizens Internet Empowerment Coalition Trial Update No. 14
> Decision Update -- June 12 1996 1:00 pm EDT
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> http://www.cdt.org/ciec/
> ciec-info@cdt.org
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> CIEC UPDATES intended for members of the Citizens Internet Empowerment
> Coalition. CIEC Updates are written and edited by the Democracy and
> Technology (http://www.cdt.org). This document may be reposted as long
> as it remains in total. This document is best viewed in COURIER font.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ** 45,000 Netizens Vs. U.S. Department of Justice. **
> * The Fight To Save Free Speech Online *
> (1) COURT GRANTS INJUNCTION ON CDA; UNANIMOUS DECISION IS A MAJOR VICTORY
> FOR FREE SPEECH ON THE INTERNET!
>
> At 9:00 am this morning (6/12), a three-judge panel of federal judges
> in Philadelphia, PA granted CIEC's request for a preliminary injunction
> against the Communications Decency Act (CDA). In a unanimous decision,
> the judges ruled that the CDA would unconstitutionally restrict speech on
> the Internet.
>
> This is a major victory for Netizens! The ruling today soundly rejects
> Congressional attempts to censor the Internet. However, the government
> will most certainly appeal this case to the Supreme Court, so the battle
> against the CDA is not over yet. All Internet users are encouraged to
> join the fight against the CDA as the case moves to the Supreme Court.
>
> Excerpts from the decision:
>
> "As the most participatory form of mass speech yet developed, the
> Internet deserves the highest protection from government intrusion."
>
> "Just as the strength of the Internet is chaos, so the strength of
> our liberty depends upon the chaos and cacophony of the unfettered
> speech the First Amendment protects."
>
> The full text of the decision, including a compressed downloadable version,
> as well as information on how to join the CIEC, is available at the CIEC web
> page:
>
> http://www.cdt.org/ciec/
>
> More information about the decision, including analysis of the 175-page
> opinion, will be posted over the next few days.
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> (4) For More Information
>
> For more information on the CIEC challenge, including the text of the
> complaint and other relevant materials:
>
> * World Wide Web -- http://www.cdt.org/ciec/
> * General Information about CIEC -- ciec-info@cdt.org
> * Copy of the Complaint -- ciec-docs@cdt.org
>
> * Specific Questions Regarding the
> Coalition, including Press Inquiries -- ciec@cdt.org
>
> * General information about the
> Center for Democracy and Technology -- info@cdt.org
>
> --
> end ciec-update.14
> 6/13/96
>
>