The Conversation (0)
Lowenna Waters
Jul 09, 2019
Picture:
Getty / Twitter
A court judge in New York has ruled that Donald Trump can no longer block people on Twitter, and it goes without saying that it's caused a lot of reaction on the social networking site.
The case was brought forward by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Colombia University, representing seven plaintiffs who had been blocked by the president, reports the Guardian.
In a ruling against Mr Trump, the court highlighted past White House assurances that the president's Twitter account is an official political channel. The president uses his account to make announcements, including personnel changes within his administration, to the implementation of new policies, reports the Hill.
In the ruling, which upholds a lower court ruling that also found Trump cannot block the Twitter users, the judges wrote that:
The First Amendment does not permit a public official who utilises a social media account for all manner of official purposes to exclude persons from an otherwise‐open online dialogue because they expressed views with which the official disagrees.
It goes without saying that people on Twitter had a lot of thoughts...
Some wondered whether it would mean that Trump would finally unblock them?
Others, however, thought that the ruling went against free speech.
And some commented that it was bad news for those who are proud that they're blocked by Trump on Twitter.
Well, we guess that's bad luck then, Mr Trump!
HT Guardian