# Any thoughts on this piece on free speech?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-this-piece-on-free-speech/919397>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 30, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-this-piece-on-free-speech/919397 "2020-08-30T21:53:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-this-piece-on-free-speech/919397/21 "2020-09-11T19:43:41Z")

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> [@Wheelz](#):
>
> I would say that state-run schools should refrain from using any censoring software lest they run afoul of the First Amendment.  
> However, if we’re talking about a private university, this is not a “free speech” issue at all. A private institution can do whatever the hell it wants, and if students don’t like it they can go elsewhere.

“Free speech issue” is not synonymous with “First Amendment issue”. The former term applies any time speech is stifled, by private or public parties, and the latter only applies when some level of government in the US does it. Just because it’s not _illegal_ for a private party to infringe on someone’s freedom of speech doesn’t mean they didn’t infringe on it.

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