Censoring Satire is Unconstitutional

A win for The Bee: State's attempt to censor satire ruled to be unconstitutional

California's deliberate scheme to censor satire, and prevent its politicians and others from being the butt of online jokes, has failed. A federal district court has ruled that two California laws censoring online political speech are unconstitutional.

"Making fun of politicians and criticizing the government is a core First Amendment right. That includes using new technology to create parody campaign ads or satirical memes," explained lawyer Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse of the ADF.

"Our job is hard enough when our jokes keep coming true, as if they were prophecies," said The Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon. "But it becomes significantly more difficult when self-serving politicians abuse their power to try to control public discourse and clamp down on comedy.

We're pleased the court recognized the First Amendment secures our right to tell jokes, even ones the government doesn't like."

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