The International Justice Clinic submitted a letter to the Tokyo District Court in a case concerning the Japanese government’s rejection of a passport application by a Japanese journalist, Junpei Yasuda. Mr. Yasuda has expertise in reporting from conflict zones such
The American Bar Association’s proposed resolution calls for a spyware moratorium: Professor Kaye’s letter to ABA
July 26, 2023 Today, Professor Kaye conveyed his view to the ABA House of Delegates, the policy-making body of the association, on the proposed Resolution 508 of the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, which calls for a
Coalition Calls for Human Rights to be at Center of UN Afghanistan Assessment
Irvine, California, April 24: A coalition of civil society organizations and individuals today called on the United Nations (UN) Secretary General and High Commissioner for Human Rights to put human rights at the center of the independent assessment requested by
UNESCO Guidelines for Regulating Digital Platforms: A Rough Critique
UNESCO’s Guidelines for regulating digital platforms (Draft 2.0) (“draft” or “draft guidelines”) aim “to support the development and implementation of regulatory processes that guarantee freedom of expression and access to information while dealing with content that is illegal and content
Supreme Court Hearing Major Internet Case: A Preview
by Virginia Kennedy and Grace Palcic On Tuesday, February 21st, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Gonzalez v. Google, a case with potentially monumental implications for the future of online speech in the United States – and potentially
New Report! A National Human Rights Institution for the United States
The International Justice Clinic is pleased to release today a report advocating for the creation of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in the United States. The Report, Establishing a National Human Rights Institution in the United States, is the
New Report! Advancing Digital Rights through UN Treaty Body Litigation
For at least a decade, the United Nations (“UN”) has sought to define and promote digital rights for the international community. In the face of resistance from authoritarian-minded governments, UN bodies have not always articulated fundamental norms in the most
IJC is seeking a Clinical Fellow to support its New Treaty Body Litigation Initiative
The University of California, Irvine, School of Law invites applications for the position of a Fellow in its International Justice Clinic. The successful candidate will work principally on projects defending and promoting human rights online, with a specific focus on
9th Circuit Rejects NSO Group’s Claim to Sovereign Immunity
In a major milestone in WhatsApp’s suit against NSO Group, the 9th Circuit today rejected NSO’s argument that it could benefit from the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act’s exclusion of foreign states from federal court jurisdiction. The full opinion is available
“Provided by Law”? Applying Article 19’s Legality Requirement to Facebook’s Content Moderation Standards*
In rendering decisions on content moderation actions, the Facebook Oversight Board must scrutinize whether restrictions on speech pass muster under international human rights law. This analysis involves an assessment of Facebook’s policies governing content moderation on the company’s platforms (its “Community Standards”). Indeed, any Board decision affirming the removal of content or an account suspension must necessarily include a finding that the relevant Community Standards comport with the right to freedom of expression as set forth by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Yet, as this paper explains, the substance and presentation of these Standards raise important questions about their adherence to the legality requirement under Article 19.