Using Social Media to Organize Protests: Does Shutting Down Cell Phone Service Violate First Amendment Free Speech Rights?

Abstract

This comment focuses on the event that took place on August 11, 2011, in San Francisco, California. The article analyzes both the implications of the government agency’s actions when it shut down cell phone service to stop a planned protest as well as its subsequent adoption of a policy guideline for future interruptions. The main legal issue is First Amendment free speech rights in the social media age. As a relatively novel issue, this comment therefore discusses whether blocking cell phone service in the interest of public safety infringes on First Amendment rights.