A federal judge in New York has reportedly said that China's Baidu Internet search engine has a First Amendment right to monitor and block content searches related to China's pro-democracy movement.
A lawsuit was filed by eight New York writers and video producers, claiming that the censorship ordered by the Chinese government, was in violation of their First Amendment rights.
However, U.S. District Court Judge Jesse Furman said the censorship itself was protected free speech, Fox News reported.
Dismissing the lawsuit, the judge wrote that the First Amendment protects Baidu's right to advocate for systems of government other than democracy just as surely as it protects plaintiffs' rights to advocate for democracy.
The petitioners had sought 16 million dollars in damages for violations of their civil and equal protection rights.
Baidu's lawyer, Carey Ramos of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan said that the right for a media company to publish what it wants protects Chinese media as much as American media.
Expressing disappointment over the court ruling, Stephen Preziosi, a lawyer for the activists said that the court has laid out a perfect paradox by allowing the suppression of free speech, in the name of free speech, adding that his clients will appeal.
