Internet message boards now count as public meeting places, according to an
appeals court ruling in California. This seemingly innocuous decision means that
companies will find it harder to sue people discussing their business on the
Net. Computer company ComputerXpress sued eight defendants for making what it
says were false and disparaging statements on message boards. The ruling now
allows people to use freedom of speech, which is protected under the First
Amendment, as a defence.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
The chips in your phone are probably broken – and that's a good thing
News
Life
Scorpions reinforce their claws and stingers with metals
News
Environment
Extreme weather in 2025 drove record wildfire emissions in Europe
News
ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Cancer is increasing in young people and we still don't know why
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Is consciousness more fundamental to reality than quantum physics?
2
We may finally have a cure for many different autoimmune conditions
3
100-year-old assumption about the universe may soon be overturned
4
Cancer is increasing in young people and we still don't know why
5
How I pay almost nothing to power my house and electric car
6
Why the keto diet could be a revolutionary way to treat mental illness
7
The bombshell results that demand a new theory of the universe
8
Largest-ever octopus was great white shark of invertebrate predators
9
We’ve glimpsed before the big bang and it’s not what we expected
10
Gamblers are betting millions of dollars on measles outbreaks
