Federal Court Upholds Oregon Ban on Secret Recordings, Project Veritas Plans Supreme Court Appeal

The 9th Circuit Court ruled the law does not violate free speech, citing privacy concerns and content-neutrality, while Project Veritas argues it impedes undercover journalism.

• The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 9-2 to uphold Oregon's law banning most secret recordings of oral conversations, reversing an earlier 2023 decision that struck it down.
• The court found the law to be content-neutral and narrowly tailored to protect conversational privacy, with exceptions for law enforcement and life-endangering felony crimes.
• Project Veritas, known for its undercover journalism, plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming the law restricts their ability to expose corruption and work with whistleblowers.
• The majority opinion, authored by Judge Morgan Christen, emphasized the risks of secret recordings being manipulated or invading privacy, while dissenting judges argued the law is overly broad and hinders accountability.
• The case has drawn support from groups like PETA and FIRE, who argue undercover recordings are vital for investigative journalism, and criticism from privacy advocates defending the statute's protections.

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