FIREwire — August 22, 2025
ICE detains a journalist, the UK targets 4chan, and the NYT profiles FIRE
“It should alarm all Americans when the government retaliates against individuals or organizations for engaging in constitutionally protected public debate.”
– Judge Sparkle Sooknanan, blocking the FTC probe of Media Matters, Aug. 15, 2025
ICE detains journalist for filming police
Mario Guevara, a Salvadoran journalist who documents law enforcement, has been in ICE detention since June despite all related criminal charges being dropped.
His attorneys, joined by the ACLU, argue he’s being punished for exercising First Amendment–protected journalism.
School boards argue book bans are legally justified ‘government speech’
The emerging legal strategy would give school boards the ability to yank books without violating the First Amendment.
Case in point, And Tango Makes Three was pulled from a Florida library despite educational recommendations to keep it.
UK plans to fine 4chan
The Office of Communications is investigating 4chan for violating the Online Safety Act, even though 4chan doesn’t operate in the UK.
“The 1A will become meaningless in our digital era,” wrote FIRE Executive Vice President Nico Perrino, “if foreign censors can punish American businesses for their speech.”
Also in the news
This week, The New York Times published a profile of FIRE.
ICE agents boasted about ripping down an anti-border-patrol sign in DC, clearly discriminating based on viewpoint, even if the message violated sign restrictions.
Over 30 civil rights and privacy groups are pressing 60 U.S. colleges to end cooperation with law enforcement on campus surveillance.
Weekly datapoint
For years, censorship efforts on campus have come from the left. But now, opposition to such behavior is also declining on the right.
Grateful for your advocacy!