McFarland v. California

McFarland v. California is a legal case in which the Supreme Court addressed whether a person’s anonymity on social media can be protected under the First Amendment. Specifically, the Court ruled that individuals have a right to remain anonymous when expressing their views online, unless the government can demonstrate a clear, legal reason—such as evidence of criminal activity—that justifies revealing their identity. This decision emphasizes the importance of protecting free speech and privacy rights in digital spaces, affirming that exposing someone’s anonymity requires careful judicial consideration to prevent unnecessary infringement of free expression.