SCOTUS to Consider Whether Violent Speech on Social Media Is Punishable
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iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The Supreme Court will hear a case Monday regarding violent Facebook messages posted by a man named Anthony Elonis in Pennsylvania. The Court is being asked to determine the scope of the “true threats” exception to the First Amendment.
After his wife left him, Elonis took to posting violent passages on Facebook.
“Did you know that it’s illegal for me to say I want to kill my wife?” he posted in one.
He was convicted under a federal threat statute. Elonis, however, argues he never intended to carry out a threat, and he was expressing himself at times using song lyrics that are similar to the music produced by rap star Eminem.
At issue in the case is under what circumstances the government can punish speech as a threat.
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