Facebook, Charter Say Robocall Law Violates Free Speech

Charter Communications Inc. and Facebook Inc. are set to argue a federal robocall law violates the First Amendment’s free-speech guarantee.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit March 11 will hear oral argument in separate cases challenging the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which restricts the use of autodialers to make telemarketing calls.

The Ninth Circuit may choose to strike down the entire law, or just an amendment to the autodialer restriction that was added in 2015. Under the statute, first enacted in 1991, consumers may sue for robocalls and collect up to $1,500 per call or text.

If ...