In a lawsuit filed in the federal district court for the Northern District of Georgia, a plaintiff asserted that a Georgia Public Service Commissioner had violated her free speech rights by blocking her accounts on Twitter and Facebook. The plaintiff described herself as “a concerned citizen” who was “politically active” and who had run to serve on the Public Service Commission before the a federal court cancelled the election based on a Voting Rights Act violation. The plaintiff alleged that her constitutionally protected speech on the Commissioner’s Twitter account and Facebook page included “criticism of Commissioner Echols’ positions on the viability of nuclear energy sources and programs in Georgia, effective methods of tackling carbon dioxide reduction, and Georgia utility rate increases.” For example, the plaintiff alleged that she responded to the Commissioner’s re-tweet of an assertion that a carbon tax would be ineffective in reducing global carbon dioxide levels with criticism of the Commission’s investment in nuclear power. The plaintiff sought to enjoin the defendant from censoring her comments and to enjoin “the current unconstitutional and standard-less practice of deleting platform activity and blocking users …due to their content or viewpoint.” Other relief sought included damages and attorney’s fees.

Lawsuit alleging that a Georgia Public Service Commissioner violated an individual's free speech rights by blocking her criticism of the Commissioner's positions on energy issues on Twitter and Facebook.

Durand v. Echols

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Plaintiff Charged that Georgia Public Service Commissioner Violated Her Free Speech Rights

Filed

United States of America

Georgia

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

A ban is a legal action that prevents the sale or supply of a product or service, or that recalls a product from the market. Examples are bans on SF6, greenwashing, fossil fuel advertisement or single-use plastics.

A target to reduce the prevalence of a greenhouse gas over a specific time frame

A commitment to balance GHG emissions with removal by a certain point in time, effectively reducing the net emissions to zero

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

Replacing technologies that burn fossil fuels directly with alternatives powered by electricity.

Actions to reduce emissions in energy generation and supply.

Technologies that capture and hold energy in reserve for later use.

Production of electricity and heat from solar irradiation.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

Any compulsory, unrequited payment to the government levied on corporations or individuals. This can be for environmental reasons, such as introducing a Carbon tax to set a price that emitters must pay for the greenhouse gases they emit.

The activities of industries involved in the production, distribution, and sale of energy, including electricity, gas, and renewables.

Activities that involve planning, designing and building infrastructure, residential, and commercial structures.

This sector involves the wholesale and retail selling of goods.

This sector creates and distributes information and entertainment through television, radio, print, and digital platforms.

Activities of government agencies and institutions that provide public services, enforce laws and manage public resources.

Plaintiff Charged that Georgia Public Service Commissioner Violated Her Free Speech Rights

Target

Policy instrument

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Finance