this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2026
992 points (99.1% liked)
Technology
85392 readers
4188 users here now
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related news or articles.
- Be excellent to each other!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
- Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.
Approved Bots
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
A city council in the U.S. does not have to allow a general public comment time. Perhaps there are some states where it is required.
They can also allow public comment only as part of a hearing on a specific matter. Most states require this.
HOWEVER, if they allow an open public comment they cannot censor it.
There are definitely states where it's required. Washington is one, for example. I was too lazy to research more.
But anyway, the details matter. One can easily have public comment but still limit the undesirable speech, as this specific example shows... Is that legal? Depends if you have a good lawyer.
Seems like an opportunity for malicious compliance …. Perhaps everyone can speak up against stifling public input “on matters like F*ck cameras”
I have experience in this. The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled on it. If it’s open comment time, they cannot censor except for obscene or threatening speech. All they can do is set a time limit. Don’t cuss or make violent threats and you’re good. If they censor you it’s an open and shut civil rights case.
If it’s a public hearing for a specific matter, they can restrict comment to that topic.
Wow how backwoodish xd