The Supreme court ruled Monday that it’s not enough to consider something posted on social media a “true threat” simply because a reasonable person would consider it threatening. Also, May has been the most violent month in Baltimore’s history.Then,Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, graced this month’s issue of Vanity Fair.
SCOTUS ruling on Facebook threats leaves questions about free speech on social media
The highest court in the U.S. ruled Monday that it’s not enough to consider something posted on social media a “true threat” simply because a reasonable person would consider it threatening.
The ruling revolves around the case of a Pennsylvania man convicted of threatening his estranged wife and an FBI agent on Facebook. At issue, the question of whether a reasonable person would consider Elonis’ threats to be real. In a 7-2 vote, the High Court struck down the conviction, saying that in order to be guilty of threatening someone, there needs to be proof that the person making the threats knew their statements would be considered threats, and that it’s not enough to simply argue that the person’s statements were intended as threats.
The Supreme Court did not, however, rule on the larger First Amendment aspect of the case as it pertains to the line between free speech and threats on social media. They simply focused on the interpretation of the criminal statutes as it applies to making threats. Because of this, questions still remain about what the standard for free speech on social media should be.
What do you think of this ruling? Where do you think the line is between free speech and threats on social media? Does this ruling set a precedent for other cases involving threats on social media or was it too narrow?
Guests:
Eugene Volokh, professor at the UCLA School of Law and an expert on the First Amendment
Erwin Chemerinsky, founding dean and distinguished professor of law at the UC Irvine School of Law.
Baltimore sees most violent month on record
May has been the most violent month in Baltimore’s history with 43 homicides and 108 injured.
Tension between community members and police have escalated in the city since the police involved shooting of Freddie Gray in April.
More than one hundred police have been injured from the riots surrounding the shooting and many community members feel unsafe to walk the streets or even leave their homes. Once criticized for being an over-policed city, community members now feel abandoned and that there is not an adequate level of policing taking place.
What is causing this trend in violent crimes? Could law enforcement be doing more? Is this rise in violent crimes a result of fewer police?
Guests:
Michael Greenberger, Law School Professor and Director, Center for Health and Homeland Security at the University of Maryland
Jeffrey Ian Ross, Professor of Criminology in the University of Baltimore's College of Public Affairs and a noted commentator and author on trends in crime and criminal justice
Peter Moskos, Associate professor in the Department of Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, former police officer
Sex, drugs, and Bitcoins: Explaining the ‘Dark Net’ in wake of Silk Road sentencing
The founder of the illicit website Silk Road was sentenced to life in prison for enabling the sales of over $180 million in drugs on the online black market.
Silk Road existed on something called the Dark Net, a space on the internet that is hidden from search engines where users can access anonymously for a variety of illicit purposes, including the buying and selling of weapons and drugs. The cryptocurrency Bitcoin is the currency of choice on the Dark Net, given its untraceability.
Wired’s Kim Zetter and Jaime Bartlett, author of a new book focused on the Dark Net, join Larry and offers this look at the Dark Net after Silk Road’s closure.
Guest:
Kim Zetter, Senior Reporter for WIRED, covering cybercrime, privacy, and security. She is the author of “Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World's First Digital Weapon” (Crown, 2014)
Noted journalist tells story of the women soldiers of the Afghanistan war
Traditionally ground combat in war was restricted to men. But that all changed in 2011, when for the first time an all-female, all-Army team was created to serve on the battlefield in Afghanistan.
The special pilot program put women on the battlefield with Special Forces, Army Rangers, and Navy Seals. The idea was that women could get access to people that men could not.
“Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield” looks at a special group of women who were sent out on night raids to search for and question Afghan women. The historic program set the course for changes in the U.S. Army and highlighted the significant role women play in the Army Special Forces. Lemmon shares First Lieutenant Ashley White’s story and the series of events that led to her death on the battlefield.
Guest:
Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, journalist and author of the New York Times bestseller “Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield” (Harper, 2015)
Meghan Curran, one of the soldiers featured in the book. She now lives near Boston
Media, transgender community react: Bruce Jenner comes out as ‘Caitlyn’ on Vanity Fair Cover
This morning Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, graced this month’s issue of Vanity Fair.
Caitlyn Jenner poses for Annie Leibovitz on the cover of Vanity Fair #CallMeCaitlyn http://t.co/NRyh6R09RR pic.twitter.com/GO1ZgJJKBR
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) June 1, 2015
by Annie Leibovitz portrays a sexualized image of Jenner that recalls comparisons to Playboy bunnies, Marilyn Monroe and Cindy Crawford.
In an accompanying video Jenner said, “Bruce always had to tell a lie. He was always living that lie. Every day he always had a secret from morning to night. Caitlyn doesn’t have any secrets. Soon as the Vanity Fair cover comes out. I’m free.”
Jenner also launched a new twitter account under the handle
and posted “I’m so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can’t wait for you to get to know her/me.”
What does the choice to go with Vanity Fair over a tabloid signify? And as the transgender community fights for civil rights and mainstream acceptance, will Jenner’s name and status open more eyes to the realities of transitioning? Or will it further sensationalize the transgender community?
Guests:
Kevin Fallon, Entertainment Reporter, The Daily Beast and a former Red Carpet Reporter for US Weekly; “Is the Media Capable of Covering Bruce Jenner’s Transition With Respect?”
Hanna Zoey Tur, transgender “Inside Edition" reporter. She is based in Los Angeles and tweets
Shira Tarrant, Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, California State University, Long Beach