ACLU sends letter requesting Gov. Hogan unblock users on Facebook

The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter on Friday to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, alleging that the deletion of comments and banning of users on the governor's Facebook page is unconstitutional.

The ACLU says seven of Gov. Hogan's constituents signed off on the letter, those constituents claiming Gov. Hogan is blocking dissent and engaging in censorship.

Legal Director for the ACLU of Maryland Deborah Jeon says there is a difference between private citizens unfriending people on Facebook and a public official blocking comments that disagree with policies.

"Social media has become a key way that constituents communicate with their elected leaders," Jeon said. "It violates both the First Amendment and Maryland's own social media policy for government officials to block out any voices of dissent or those simply raising questions about positions taken by public officials sworn to serve."

The ACLU says several of its clients left comments asking Gov. Hogan to speak out against policies by the Trump administration and found that their comments had been deleted or hidden from public view. Some clients reportedly were blocked from future commenting on Gov. Hogan's page.

The ACLU says both courts and the Maryland government have observed social media as serving as a modern, digital "town square" forum. They are requesting a full review of the 450 people who they say were banned in the last two years and restoration of their commenting privileges.