---
title: "Matt Mullenweg & Free Speech"
url: "https://sethgoldstein.me/matt-mullenweg-free-speech/"
updated: "2024-10-23T21:34:27+00:00"
sources:
  - "https://sethgoldstein.me/matt-mullenweg-free-speech/"
---

Matt Mullenweg recently posted on his blog that his freedom of speech has been hindered by a court injunction in the lawsuit brought by WP Engine against him et. al.

> [My Freedom of Speech](https://ma.tt/2024/10/first-amendment/)



Ummmm, I don’t think that the court telling you to STFU is a First Amendment issue.

![Classic quote from the Princess bride "I do not think it means what you think it means."](https://sethgoldstein.me/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/image.webp)As I recall, after all I was a professional journalist and went to J-school for 4 years prior, the First Amendment has to do with you and having the government trying to suppress it.

*Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.*

What I can say, and I’m not a lawyer, is that Matt probably has *[libeled](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamation)* himself and maybe it can be construed as *[actual malice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actual_malice)*. But again, I’m just a former professional journalist who has had to learn how to not get himself sued.

I might actually be a good thing, and I’m not speaking for his lawyers here, for him to be quiet and get through this legal battle.

Another interesting First Amendment discussion is [that the Supreme Court has said that Platforms can curate speech as a First Amendment Right](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/07/platforms-have-first-amendment-right-curate-speech-weve-long-argued-supreme-1). But is Matt Mullenweg, the human, a platform? And also, I do believe, it doesn’t protect against defamation.

Though, with a second read, it looks like Matt is saying that WordPress the platform’s rights have been hindered. Ugh.

*Oh the crazy web we weave.*

So put the popcorn away everyone. The show appears to be over — for now.