The ACLU welcomes protection for public-concern reporting
American Civil Liberties UnionOrganization speaking through legal director Steven Shapiro
The ACLU supports the publication holding.
“Today’s decision once again reaffirms the First Amendment right of the media to publish and broadcast information of public concern.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Bartnicki v. Vopper: justices split over publishing an illegally intercepted call
The Supreme Court protected publication of a recorded call by recipients who did not participate in the illegal interception and lawfully obtained the tape afterward. John Paul Stevens's majority emphasizes public concern. William Rehnquist's dissent stresses privacy and incentives for interception.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
The ACLU defends publication of public-concern information while opposing illegal interception.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Its legal director Steven Shapiro comments on the ruling.
After the quotation
The organization also opposes unlawful interception.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case concerns publication of this intercepted call, assessed on the majority's accepted premises of lawful receipt by nonparticipating recipients and public concern. The ACLU supports the publication holding.
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More from this case
Read the full caseRehnquist rejects constitutional protection for the challenged broadcast
“The Constitution should not protect the involuntary broadcast of personal conversations.”Read statement
Stevens defends publishing the intercepted call as protected speech
“a stranger's illegal conduct does not suffice to remove the First Amendment shield from speech about a matter of public concern.”Read statement
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- The ACLU welcomes protection for public-concern reporting
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The Dispute Index. "The ACLU welcomes protection for public-concern reporting". First published: 2026-10-25. Last updated: 2026-10-25. https://disputeindex.com/events/6728-the-aclu-supports-the-publication-holding