Protected Speech Law and Legal Definition
Protected speech means speech that is protected from government regulation and censorship, depending upon the nature of the speech and the nature of regulation.
The following is an example of a federal statute defining the term:
According to 20 USCS § 1011a(3), the term "protected speech" in the context of higher education and student assistance means speech that is protected under the first and 14th amendments to the Constitution, or would be protected if the institution of higher education involved were subject to those amendments.
