HR REPORT: Official Speech or Personal Speech? U.S. Supreme Court Provides Clarity on Public Official’s Use of Social Media
Municipal employees have free speech rights just like every other American citizen. But unlike every other American citizen, many municipal employees also have the authority, under certain circumstances, to speak in an official capacity on behalf of the town or city they represent. When a municipal official posts about job-related topics on social media, it is often difficult to tell whether the speech is official or private. While the employee’s official speech is within the employing municipality’s control, the employee’s personal speech often is not.