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Blake, Wm. God Judging Adam. 1795.

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled public officials can be sued for blocking access to their private social media accounts if used for public business.

Writing for the court, Justice Amy Coney Barrett said officials can be sued when they have authority to speak for the government on certain topics, post about those subjects on their private accounts and then delete comments from members of the public.

Each case’s facts will determine if a lawsuit can proceed, focusing on whether officials’ actions on social media are considered state action. The rulings stem from cases involving California school board members and a Michigan city manager who blocked critical commenters.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett: “While public officials can act on behalf of the state, they are also private citizens with their own constitutional rights.”