Knight First Amendment Institute
@knightcolumbia.org
The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University defends the freedoms of speech & the press in the digital age through strategic litigation, research, policy advocacy, and public education. https://knightcolumbia.org/
With Paul Weiss’s settlement back in the news, re-upping @knightcolumbia.org's podcast, “Lawyering Without Law,” exploring the role and responsibility of lawyers in an era of authoritarianism. It’s *really* good. Please listen & share it with your lawyer friends. knightcolumbia.org/content/lawy...
Lawyering Without Law
knightcolumbia.org
The Ninth Circuit today vacated an injunction against Perplexity’s AI agents, rejecting Amazon’s broader interpretation of federal and state computer crime laws. Read the Knight Institute’s statement on the ruling: knightcolumbia.org/content/nint...
Ninth Circuit Vacates Injunction Against Perplexity’s AI Agents
knightcolumbia.org
The Trump administration tried to use visa denials and deportation to silence researchers who study social media. A court said no. Sunday Tagliasacchi and Elisabeth Snyder, former legal externs at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, break down the CITR v. Rubio ruling.
Trump Cannot Use Immigration Law to Silence Technology Researchers
Sunday Tagliasacchi and Elisabeth Snyder detail an initial court victory for the Coalition for Independent Technology Research in CITR v. Rubio.
buff.ly
Read more about our coalition's recent victory getting a US federal court to block an immigration policy targeting public interest technology researchers ⬇️ knightcolumbia.org/content/fede... @knightcolumbia.org @protectdemocracy.org
This September will mark 25 years since 9/11 and the inauguration of the “war on terror.” On Sept 9 & 10, join @knightcolumbia.org and the Li Center at @columbiajournalism.bsky.social for a major symposium about the war on terror’s legacy for democratic freedom. 1/ knightcolumbia.org/events/the-f...
The Forever War and the First Amendment
knightcolumbia.org
Southern states are using the same tactics they used to intimidate civil rights activists in the 50s and 60s to harass and intimidate CAIR today. They’ve pointed to *no evidence* that CAIR is engaged in criminal activity. The whole campaign is just rank bigotry. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/u...
Texas and Florida Draw Up Terrorism Lists and Take Aim at a Muslim Group
The federal government designates terrorism groups. But Governors Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott have gotten in the game, and a focus is CAIR, a nonprofit.
nytimes.com
How can we better protect government science from political interference? In a new essay, Wendy Wagner argues that government science should be redesigned to institutionalize independent peer review and opportunities for scientific dissent, strengthening transparency and public trust.
Combatting Centralized Control Over Government Science
knightcolumbia.org
The FCC ordered eight Disney-owned ABC stations to undergo license renewal years early. Yesterday, the Knight Institute joined @aclu.org, @ncacensorship.bsky.social, and @futurefreespeech.org in challenging those proceedings as unconstitutional jawboning.
Free Speech Organizations File Comment Demanding the FCC Stop Censorship Campaign Against ABC, Jimmy Kimmel
knightcolumbia.org
Every year, the Westchester County Police Dept collects and analyzes data on millions of innocent drivers. This surveillance system utilizes hundreds of automatic license plate readers, or ALPRs - and if you drive through Westchester County, then you're likely in its surveillance system, too.
Knight Institute urges the Eleventh Circuit to make Jack Smith’s report public. "Every day that the report stays under seal deprives the American public of the information necessary to judge for themselves the character and fitness of the nation’s highest official," said @scottbwilkens.bsky.social.
Eleventh Circuit Asked to Order Release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Report
knightcolumbia.org
A federal court suspended a Trump administration policy that threatened noncitizen technology researchers with immigration consequences based on their work. In @techpolicypress.bsky.social, former Knight Institute externs Sunday Tagliasacchi and Elisabeth Snyder explain why the ruling matters.
Trump Cannot Use Immigration Law to Silence Technology Researchers
Sunday Tagliasacchi and Elisabeth Snyder detail an initial court victory for the Coalition for Independent Technology Research in CITR v. Rubio.
techpolicy.press
The Knight Institute has joined other organizations in urging the First Circuit to uphold the ruling blocking the government’s unconstitutional attacks on Harvard. “The Trump administration’s attacks on universities are attacks on democracy itself,” said the Institute’s @alexabdo.bsky.social.
Legal Organizations Across Ideologies Urge Appeals Court to Uphold Block on President Trump’s Unconstitutional Attacks on Harvard
knightcolumbia.org
Governments should have substantial leeway to require disclosures that help the public better understand generative AI systems. That’s why today the Knight Institute filed an amicus brief urging the Ninth Circuit to reject xAI’s bid to block California’s AI transparency law.
Public Needs Greater Transparency Into How Generative AI Systems Are Built
knightcolumbia.org
How can courts help protect universities from executive branch attacks? In a new essay, @fishkin.bsky.social argues that courts can play a crucial role, but Congress, states, and universities must give them stronger tools to constrain unlawful attacks on higher education.
What Courts Can Do and How to Help Them Do It
knightcolumbia.org
The Justice Department reportedly sought the phone and text records of several @nytimes.com journalists, as well as their family members, to identify their confidential sources. The Knight Institute’s @katiefallow.bsky.social called the tactic “an abuse of power designed to silence scrutiny.”
Justice Department’s Pursuit of Times Journalists’ and Family Members’ Phone Records Threatens Press Freedom
knightcolumbia.org
How can higher education better withstand political attacks? In a new essay, @bakerdphd.bsky.social argues that power must be shifted away from governing boards and governments, and toward faculty, staff, students, and accreditors.
Reducing the Concentration of Power
knightcolumbia.org
How is 9/11 still shaping our lives and freedoms, 25 years later? On Sept. 9–10, the Institute and @columbiajournalism.bsky.social’s Li Center for Global Journalism will host a symposium exploring how the post-9/11 era reshaped speech and the press. Learn more: knightcolumbia.org/events/the-f...
The Forever War and the First Amendment
knightcolumbia.org
In a recent friend-of-the-court brief, @rcfp.org and @knightcolumbia.org argue that warrantless searches of electronic devices at the border burden journalists’ constitutional freedoms. Learn why this matters and how to protect yourself in the thread below 👇
United States v. Inofuentes
knightcolumbia.org
The Knight Institute is seeking a litigation program manager to support the development and management of First Amendment litigation, working closely with attorneys on case strategy, litigation operations, and program priorities. Learn more and apply: knightcolumbia.org/page/litigat...
| Knight First Amendment Institute
knightcolumbia.org
So proud to be representing @thecoalition.bsky.social in this case, and so grateful for their courage—and their members’ courage—in standing up to fight this backwards and blatantly unconstitutional policy.
Breaking: A federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing an immigration policy targeting noncitizen researchers, advocates, fact-checkers, and trust and safety workers based on their work. knightcolumbia.org/content/fede...
Federal Court Suspends Trump Immigration Policy Targeting Technology Researchers
knightcolumbia.org
International law was never built to enforce itself. In the final episode of “Lawyering Without Law,” Aslı Bâli explains why lawyers can be especially powerful on the international stage, and how legal advice can either defend public norms or help powerful actors evade them.
The Knight Institute is hiring. Open roles include staff attorney, paralegal, communications associate, and fall interns. Learn more: knightcolumbia.org/page/work-wi...
| Knight First Amendment Institute
knightcolumbia.org
Just filed: the Knight Institute is urging the 11th Circuit to affirm a ruling blocking Gov. Ron DeSantis’s executive order targeting @cairnational.bsky.social, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. The order designates CAIR a “terrorist organization” and bars it from public benefits.
Florida Executive Order Targeting CAIR Violates First Amendment, Knight Institute Argues
knightcolumbia.org
The crisis in international law didn’t come out of nowhere. In Episode 6 of “Lawyering Without Law,” @tomdannenbaum.bsky.social traces how that crisis took shape, from Iraq and Libya to the torture memos and forever wars. The full episode featuring Tom Dannenbaum and Aslı Bâli drops this Friday.
Can protecting government science help protect democracy? In a new essay, @gretchentg.bsky.social, @jbd-phd.bsky.social, and Joseph Reed of @ucs.org call for a stronger federal scientific integrity infrastructure built around three principles: transparency, independence, and authority.
Envisioning Federal Scientific Integrity As a Tool to Protect Democracy and Fight Corruption
knightcolumbia.org
This Independence Day isn’t just a moment to look back. It’s a chance to ask what comes next. Amid attacks on democracy, the rule of law, and free speech, the Institute’s Reconstructing Free Expression series explores how to protect the system of free expression essential to our democracy.
| Knight First Amendment Institute
knightcolumbia.org
@jameeljaffer.bsky.social is featured in "Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely," a documentary about the First Amendment lawyer whose cases helped shape free speech law in the United States.
The Knight Institute is seeking a communications associate to support urgent work on free speech, civil liberties, and the digital public sphere. The role will assist with social media, press, and other work tied to the Institute’s litigation, research, policy, and public education priorities.
| Knight First Amendment Institute
knightcolumbia.org
Now that SCOTUS has closed its term, it’s worth asking what happens when legal institutions stop serving as guardrails. In Episode 1 of ”Lawyering Without Law,” @kimlanelaw.bsky.social explains how legal systems can become vehicles for autocratic power. Listen: www.buzzsprout.com/2609059/epis...