Prior Restraint censorship Also known as: previous restraint Written by Stephen Macek Contributor to SAGE Publications's The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society (2020) whose work appears in Britannica as part of a joint publishing agreement with SAGE. Stephen Macek Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 29, 2026 •History Prior restraint is any attempt by government to prevent the expression of ideas prior to publication. As interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits prior restraint over the press as an unlawful form of censorship in all but the most extreme circumstances. Constitutionally guaranteed freedom from prior restraint does not protect publishers from censure for publishing libelous, obscene, or otherwise illegal content; it merely protects their right to...

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