Numerous states have passed anti-SLAPP laws that provide mechanisms to have frivolous, malicious lawsuits dismissed before they can create harm. Several southern states, however, do not have anti-SLAPP laws and publishers in those states take on more risk when they publish than their counterparts in states with anti-SLAPP laws. Jared Schroeder of the University of Missouri and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts writes that more anti-SLAPP laws are needed to protect freedom of expression.

A state judge in Mississippi has withdrawn her order that a newspaper in Clarksdale, Miss., must take down an editorial criticizing local officials for not providing notice of a meeting to consider a tax increase.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Moody v. Netchoice that the government does not have the authority to dictate what social media companies must include on their sites. Professor Charles Mitchell of the Overby Center discusses the Moody v. Netchoice decision and the immunity issue that awaits the Supreme Court in the future because of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996.