PETA CONTINUES TO FIGHT A&M OVER FACEBOOK

  

A federal judge’s ruling last week could be a factor in a lawsuit filed against Texas A&M University by the animal rights organization, PETA.

PETA has filed a federal lawsuit against A&M, challenging the school's use of a filter on its official Facebook page.

PETA tells KBTX-TV, the filter automatically deletes visitor posts and comments if they contain words such as "PETA," "cruelty," "lab," and other terms associated with PETA's campaign against the school's use of animals in research for muscular dystrophy.

Last week, a U.S. District Judge ruled President Donald Trump violates the First Amendment when he blocks critics on Twitter.

PETA officials contend that, like President Trump's Twitter feed, Texas A&M's Facebook page is a forum open to the public.

PETA officials say the outcome of its lawsuit will have enormous implications for individuals and advocacy organizations that use social media in protest and public-awareness campaigns.

Texas A&M says it will vigorously defend itself against this lawsuit.