The ‘war on terror’ weakened the first amendment. Now we desperately need it | Jameel Jaffer
Summary
Since the September 11 attacks, the U.S. government introduced many new laws and policies aimed at national security, which have limited freedoms protected by the First Amendment. The Supreme Court has largely accepted these restrictions, weakening protections for free speech, free press, and public access to government information during the "war on terror."Key Facts
- The First Amendment protects free speech, free press, and freedom of association.
- After 9/11, the government increased censorship, surveillance, and secrecy citing national security.
- Laws like the Patriot Act expanded government surveillance powers significantly.
- The government blocked press access to some immigration hearings and used secrecy to hide information about controversial policies.
- The government restricted visas for foreign critics of U.S. foreign policy.
- Some laws expanded the definition of illegal support to groups, affecting some types of speech.
- The Supreme Court declined to review multiple national security cases related to surveillance and gag orders.
- Legal groups and officials have asked the court to address access to opinions from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court but were turned down.
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