WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court appeared likely Monday to strike down a North Carolina law that prohibits sex offenders from using Facebook and other social networking sites.
At least five justices suggested during argument that they would rule for North Carolina resident Lester Packingham Jr. He was convicted of violating a 2008 law aimed at keeping sex offenders off internet sites children might use. Packingham used Facebook to boast about beating a traffic ticket.
The state’s lawyer said the law deals with the virtual world in the same way that states keep sex offenders out of playgrounds and other places children visit. But several justices said the law was so broad that it could violate free-speech rights, even of people convicted of sex crimes. Full Article
Here is a new article, following today’s argument. Seem encouraging.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/court-may-strike-law-barring-sex-offenders-from-social-media/2017/02/27/b8d2fe58-fd0a-11e6-9b78-824ccab94435_story.html?utm_term=.2fc00eb41299
Just a thought, if they are still avoiding revisiting the whole argument about whether or not registration is punishment, can they really make any other decision besides allowing us on social media?
Unfortunately, none of this prohibits companies from establishing “terms of service” that ban registered citizens… The state can’t ban access, but a “private” actor can.
Not good
Sttt and wrong yes it doesn’t address private companies however the argument could still be made against a private company where is the basis for it plus a business cannot discriminate unless they have proof that you were being disruptive and they would not be able to provide any proof that Bending see offender would be disturbing are harming their business by preying on minors not to mention the argument to be made that the private companies are not higher than states that if the states can’t do it neither can a private company do it