Litigation
The Institute defends the freedoms of speech and of the press through strategic litigation designed to have a meaningful impact on the law, on public policy, and on public opinion. We litigate cases that have the potential to establish important new legal principles concerning the system of free expression, to influence the practices of powerful actors in that system, and to raise public awareness about contemporary structural threats to that system. We focus especially on complex and challenging cases that relate to new technology, including new communications platforms, and we favor cases that afford us the opportunity to draw on insights generated by our research program.
Our litigation prioritizes cases in our three focus areas, Free Speech & Social Media, Transparency & Democracy, and Privacy & Surveillance.
Featured
Coalition for Independent Technology Research v. Rubio
A challenge to an immigration policy targeting tech researchers and online safety workers
LATEST NEWS & ANALYSIS
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Press Statement
Westchester Drivers Challenge County Police Department’s Warrantless Mass Vehicle Surveillance System
Class-action lawsuit seeks to end a sweeping surveillance program that stores driver location data for years
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Press Statement
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Challenge to Federal Policy Silencing Immigration Judges, Reverses Appeals Court
Federal employees should be able to speak publicly on matters of public concern, the Knight Institute says
Our Docket
Showing 21–30 of 94
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Amicus Brief
The Associated Press v. Budowich
A case challenging The Associated Press’ exclusion from the White House press pool.
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Amicus Brief
United States v. Terry
A case addressing the scope of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
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Lawsuit
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York v. USDA
A case challenging USDA’s purge of climate-related webpages.
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Amicus Brief
X Corp. v. Media Matters
An appeal addressing X Corp.’s effort to compel a research organization to disclose its donors.
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Amicus Brief
United States v. Smith
A Second Circuit case addressing warrantless cellphone searches at the border
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Lawsuit
The Foundation for Global Political Exchange v. Department of the Treasury
A case challenging OFAC’s suppression of the exchange of political ideas
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FOIA Lawsuit
Knight Institute v. Department of Education
A FOIA lawsuit seeking disclosure of Department of Education guidance to universities regarding their Title VI obligations.
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Amicus Brief
United States v. Kamaldoss
A Second Circuit case addressing warrantless cellphone searches at the border
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Amicus Brief
University of Maryland Students for Justice in Palestine v. University of Maryland
A case challenging a public university’s blanket ban on expressive gatherings on October 7.