Institute For Free Speech

Disclosure: A Threat to Associational Privacy
January 1, 2018  •  By IFS staff  •    •  

Disclosure, in the campaign finance context, refers to laws and regulations requiring candidates and political groups to report information about their activities to the government, which then makes that information available publicly. The required information varies greatly, depending on the affected organization and the local, state, or federal government mandating the disclosure. Disclosure rules fall into two broad categories: disclosure…

Is Transparency in Government Always Good?
August 7, 2018   •  By Paul Jossey   •  ,

“Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote these words over ...

At 60, the NAACP’s victory for privacy rights must not be forgotten
July 3, 2018   •  By Luke Wachob   •  , , ,

Margaret Mead famously observed that “a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.” Yet when we consider the rights that protect ...

Amicus Brief: Citizens Union of the City of New York et al. v. Attorney General of the State of New York
July 2, 2018   •  By IFS Staff   •  , , , ,

The Threat to Privacy of Opinion
June 29, 2018   •  By Brad Smith   •  , ,

Alabama’s political establishment was in a tight spot in the summer of 1956. Public officials were still resisting the command to integrate schools, which ...

NAACP v. Alabama: When “Transparency” Becomes Censorship
June 28, 2018   •  By Luke Wachob   •  , , , ,

The freedom to associate with others and speak as a group is foundational to democracy. Individuals rarely can change their society, government, or laws ...

Americans Support Speech Regulation… If They Are Not Told the Facts Surrounding It
May 18, 2018   •  By Joe Albanese   •  , , ,

Last week, the Center for Public Integrity (CPI), a news outlet biased in favor of greater political speech regulation, touted recent polling by the ...

From Washington to Wisconsin, States Are Punishing Dissent
May 11, 2018   •  By Alex Cordell   •  , ,

Just over a year ago, after the Trump administration gave the green light to move forward with construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, an ...

Analysis of “Online Electioneering Transparency and Accountability Act” (Maryland H.B. 981)
April 5, 2018   •  By Eric Wang   •  , , , ,

The Institute for Free Speech provides the following analysis of H.B. 981, which currently awaits a concurrence vote in the House of Delegates. Despite ...

A Sunshine Week Reminder: Transparency is for Government; Privacy is for People
March 16, 2018   •  By Alex Baiocco   •  , ,

By now, you may be aware that it’s Sunshine Week, “the annual nationwide celebration of access to public information” organized by the American Society ...

Constitutional and Practical Issues with Idaho S. 1337 (2017 Campaign Finance Reform Legislative Work Group Recommendations)
March 8, 2018   •  By Matt Nese   •  , , , ,

On behalf of the Institute for Free Speech (“the Institute”), we respectfully submit the following comments on constitutional and practical issues with portions of ...

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