• redimk@lemmy.fmhy.ml
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    1 year ago

    I’m not a US citizen so I’m not sure how this works, so if I say some stupid shit you can call me out on it, but, is it not a ban only in state devices/networks?

    Why is that impeding researches/studies? What is stopping them from just using a personal device on a personal network, or at least a “work” (but still personal) device/network?

    I just don’t understand that part.

    • zaph@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      For not being a US citizen you have a better grasp on our free speech laws than the professors suing Texas. First I want to state fuck Greg Abbott. Now with that being said, it’s not a violation of free speech for the government to block a website on government devices/networks. There are already a huge number of websites that are blocked. I can understand the arguments against doing it but it’s not a violation of free speech just because they don’t block Facebook too.

    • mkwt@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’m a USian and state government does in fact have to pay more respect to the first amendment than private businesses.

      They have to show some kind of compelling interest that justifies doing something like this. And keep in mind that “state devices” are not just office PCs, but also stuff like Chromebooks distributed to schoolchildren.

      I would trust university professors on something like this.