Posted by: Jeffrey Thomas DeSocio, Digital News Editor / Producer - email
Indianapolis, IN -
(AP) An Indiana law that bans registered sex offenders from accessing Facebook and other social networking sites that can be accessed by children is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.
The 7th U.S. Circuit of Appeals in Chicago overturned a federal judge's decision upholding the law, saying the "blanket ban" was too broad and didn't protect children.
"It broadly prohibits substantial protected speech rather than specifically targeting the evil of improper communications to minors," the judges said in a 20-page decision.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt ruled in June that the state has a strong interest in protecting children and found that social networking had created a "virtual playground for sexual predators to lurk." She noted that the Internet remains open to those who have been convicted of sex offenses.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed the class-action suit on behalf of a man who served three years for child exploitation and other sex offenders who are restricted by the ban even though they are no longer on probation.
Federal judges have barred similar laws in Nebraska and Louisiana.
Officials at the ACLU and the Indiana attorney general's office said they hadn't yet reviewed the ruling and had no immediate comment.
Seeking to toughen the allowable alcohol limit for drivers, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling on states to lower the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.05 or lower from the current 0.08.
Seeking to toughen the allowable alcohol limit for drivers, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling on states to lower the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.05 or lower from the current 0.08.
Certain projects, such as adding a well thought-out family room can be a wise investment, as they do add to the value of the home. Other projects, however, allow little opportunity to recover the costs when it's time to sell.
Certain projects, such as adding a well thought-out family room can be a wise investment, as they do add to the value of the home. Other projects, however, allow little opportunity to recover the costs when it's time to sell.
People who follow the ancient practice of yoga may be getting an added health boost, with a new study suggesting it can fight high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension.
People who follow the ancient practice of yoga may be getting an added health boost, with a new study suggesting it can fight high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:34 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:34:01 GMT
A bear with a tag on its right ear wandered around in a neighborhood in Sun Valley for more than an hour today before being tranquilized by fish and game personnel.
A bear with a tag on its right ear wandered around in a neighborhood in Sun Valley for more than an hour today before being tranquilized by fish and game personnel.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:37 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:37:44 GMT
The World's #1 DJ & five time number one position holder in the critically acclaimed DJ Mag's Top 100 poll, Armin van Buuren is a Dutch Electronic Dance Music Artist.
The World's #1 DJ & five time number one position holder in the critically acclaimed DJ Mag's Top 100 poll, Armin van Buuren is a Dutch Electronic Dance Music Artist. Armin sat down with FOX 11's Pablo Pereira recently to talk about his passion for music and his new album, 'Intense'.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:40 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:40:57 GMT
Pope Francis' obsession with the devil has taken on remarkable new twists, with a well-known exorcist insisting Francis helped "liberate" a Mexican man from four different demons.
Pope Francis' obsession with the devil has taken on remarkable new twists, with a well-known exorcist insisting Francis helped "liberate" a Mexican man from four different demons, despite the Vatican's insistence that no such papal exorcism took place.
Watch FOX 11 News at 6am, Studio 11 LA at 5pm or FOX 11 News at 10pm and watch for the code word, then go to our Facebook page and enter the contest using that code work. More details here.
FOX 11 will be giving away an iPad a day for 3 days--9 iPads in all! Watch FOX 11 News at 6am, Studio 11 LA at 5pm or FOX 11 News at 10pm and watch for the code word, then go to our Facebook page and enter the contest using that code work. More details here.
Pretty soon, just about everything we do on the Web will be logged, analyzed, and used for things outside of our control. Here are some ways to help stop that.
Pretty soon, just about everything we do on the Web will be logged, analyzed, and used for things outside of our control. Here are some ways to help stop that.
