Sex offenders' online rights upheld.

• Author: Lyons, Donna
• Position: TRENDS & TRANSITIONS - Brief article

A federal appeals court in January ruled unconstitutional an Indiana law that broadly prohibits registered sex offenders from using social media websites. In the case of Doe v. Marion Court Prosecutor, the court said that Indiana's law barring registered sex offenders from any social networking sites, instant message services or chat sites available to minors violated the offenders' First Amendment free speech rights.

The appeals court said the law prohibits protected speech too broadly in its effort to advance the state's interest in protecting young people from improper communications. The suit was filed as a class action on behalf of registered sex offenders in Indiana.

Federal district courts in recent years have ruled similarly against broad Internet restriction laws in Louisiana and Nebraska.

Eight states have enacted restrictions on Web use by registered sex offenders, often tailoring the law to offenders who...