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/
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 Scienceknightcolumbia.orgThe 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 Kimmelknightcolumbia.orgKnight 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 Reportknightcolumbia.orgA 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 ResearchersSunday Tagliasacchi and Elisabeth Snyder detail an initial court victory for the Coalition for Independent Technology Research in CITR v. Rubio.www.techpolicy.pressThe 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 Harvardknightcolumbia.orgGovernments 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 Builtknightcolumbia.orgHow 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 Itknightcolumbia.orgThe 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 Freedomknightcolumbia.orgHow 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 Powerknightcolumbia.orgHow 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 Amendmentknightcolumbia.orgThe 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 Instituteknightcolumbia.orgBreaking: 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 Researchersknightcolumbia.orgThe 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 Instituteknightcolumbia.orgJust 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 Arguesknightcolumbia.orgCan 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 Corruptionknightcolumbia.orgThis 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 Instituteknightcolumbia.orgThe 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 Instituteknightcolumbia.org