First Amendment Doesn’t Protect A Facebook “Like”

Sheriff B. J. Roberts of Hampton, VA fired employees for “liking” an opponent in his 2009 re-election.

One of those workers, Daniel Ray Carter, had “liked” the Facebook page of Sheriff Roberts’s opponent, Jim Adams.

While public employees are allowed to speak as citizens on matters of public concern, Judge Raymond A. Jackson of Federal District Court ruled that clicking the “like” button did not amount to expressive speech. In other words, it was not the same as actually writing out a message and posting it on the site.

The case will be appealed.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.