Facebook Inc. (FB): Posts are Free Speech, but Libelous?

The initial case, which involving two Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) posts was tossed out in 2011, but an appellate court reinstated the case about the second post, and that is expected to see a courtroom Wednesday.

This case involves the strategist charging the judge of a violation of the state’s judicial conduct code for her comments in regards to her support of a state senate candidate. The judge maintained she was in her rights to campaign for a candidate of another office  if she herself was actively campaigning for re-election, which she was. The strategist recognized errors in the first post, but doubled down in the second, suggesting that there may be a basis for discipline against the judge.

What do you think? Are posts on Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) protected speech under the First Amendment, or are there constraints? How do you see cases like these affecting user interaction on the social site? We’d love your thoughts on this in the comments section below.

DISCLOSURE: I own no positions in any stock mentioned.

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