Good news for you indiscriminate Facebookers . The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Facebook likes areprotected speech under the First Amendment . Like aside .
This special ordeal started back in 2009 , when Sheriff BJ Roberts was running for reelection in Hampton , Virginia and was more than a small miffed to find that six of his employees had liked his opposer ’s Facebook page . When he won the election , he turned around and fired them . And when they crusade back , a US District Court essentially ruled that Likesdon’t require enough drive to count as free speech .
Now , it ’s swung the other manner . The Fourth Circuit Court of Appealshas ruledthat care a Facebook page is the on-line combining weight of putting a political signboard in your yard . And it ’s been long - set up that ’s totally covered by the First Amendment . It ’s unquestionably not something that a government employee can fire you for .
The rulings have been back and forward , but this is in all probability where things finish , unless by some wild chance the Supreme Court chime in to say otherwise . Still , it ’s worth noting that First Amendment protections only ward you from getting canned or similarly screwed by a public functionary . Private party have a lot more leeway .
It ’s not a blank curb to go like fearsome thing on Facebook with zero consequences , but it ’s in spades a step in play on-line rights in line with substantial - world 1 . Just remember , there ’s nothing wrong with being friendly with your boss , but maybe do n’t do it on Facebook . [ WSJviaThe Verge ]
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