Greg Bluestein of The Associated Press reports that there is a First Amendment battle over whether the plaintiffs in a civil suit against Girls Gone Wild producer Joe Francis should be able to protect their names from publication. Not surprisingly, the press is arguing for the discretion as to whether their publish their names, but should adults who were victimized as minors be able to sue and protect their identities or not?
Does the public really need to know their names? They public may be interested in the case, but as always, public curiosity does not mean that the names of private figures are really matters of public interest. Journalists who are in the courtroom will learn their names and can still fact-check, but would be barred from publishing their names if the plaintiffs prevail on this.
Read the AP coverage and see what you think.
Via @LawandLit