Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
First Amendment
Ct. of Appeals found that Indiana statute that prohibited most registered sex offenders from using social networking websites, instant messaging services and chat programs was unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds. While said statute was content neutral, it was not sufficiently tailored to serve state’s interest in protecting minors from harmful online communications since it also prohibited substantial amounts of protected speech. Ct. further observed that state was free to draft different statute that addressed state’s concern without offending First Amendment.