First Amendment

Ann Altman has filed an amended lawsuit against her brother, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, repeating allegations that he sexually abused her during childhood. The case, first filed in early 2025, has moved through federal court with earlier dismissal efforts, and the amended complaint keeps the legal fight alive while drawing renewed attention to the OpenAI chief amid ongoing scrutiny of the company.

The US Supreme Court has begun a new term featuring major First Amendment cases alongside other significant constitutional challenges. The National Constitution Center is highlighting the docket, which is expected to test the boundaries of free speech and religious liberty. Legal observers say the term could produce landmark rulings with lasting effects on American rights and institutions.

A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked Minnesota's ban on AI tools that create nonconsensual nude images of people, pending the outcome of a constitutional challenge brought by Elon Musk's xAI. The court's order pauses enforcement of the law while litigation continues. The case is drawing attention as part of a wider legal fight over how far states can go in regulating AI-generated imagery and deepfakes.

Tunisia has amended its so-called 'false news' law so that first-time offences now carry fines rather than prison sentences. The change, reported by Al Jazeera, raises questions about how significant the reform really is and why the government chose this moment. Critics have long argued the law has been used to restrict press freedom and prosecute journalists, so observers are weighing whether the softening marks genuine progress or a cosmetic adjustment that leaves the statute intact.

A hearing concluded in the D.C. District Court over whether President Trump's move banning three news organizations from the White House violates the Constitution. Judge Tim Kelly heard arguments from both sides but issued no ruling before ending the session. The case centers on press access to the White House and whether the exclusions amount to unconstitutional retaliation against news outlets critical of the administration.

A 2025 essay by researchers at Knight First Amendment Institute, Columbia University, argues that artificial intelligence should be understood as a normal technology, similar to electricity or computers, rather than an autonomous force or imminent superintelligence. The piece urges treating AI through ordinary regulation and institutional control, framing current fears of runaway systems as misplaced. It is drawing attention and debate among technology commentators.

A state appellate court has upheld Arizona's voter-approved dark money law, rejecting a First Amendment challenge to the disclosure measure. The law, approved by voters, requires certain political groups to reveal their donors. The ruling means the disclosure requirements remain in effect, and opponents of the law have suffered a significant legal setback.

Barack Obama has issued a blunt warning about press freedom in the United States, saying he is 'not surprised by Trump' in remarks touching on threats to journalism. The comments come amid ongoing debate over the Trump administration's treatment of the media, and observers are weighing the significance of a former president publicly raising alarms about First Amendment protections.