Courts redefining online free speech

ISPs and libraries stake their ground as the boundaries of free speech online are drawn in court. As Prodigy claims victory against a libel charge and a California library fights to provide unfettered Internet access, it becomes increasingly clear that First Amendment rights in cyberspace will be part of the legal landscape for years to come.

Prodigy off libel suit hook ISPs are passive carriers akin to telephone companies and are not responsible for defamatory email messages, a New York appeals court rules. Library Net access under renewed attack update Library filtering foes once again will face off in court later this month, in a case that has become the symbolic flip side of a previous bellwether case. Civil liberties online--the year that was year in review While major online companies relished their Wall Street wins, free speech advocates were busy fighting for the little guys on the Net.