( CNN ) -- Indiana ca n't kick all registered sex offenders off instant messaging services , chat rooms or social networking sites like Facebook , a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday . The state passed a law in 2008 that was aimed at keeping predators from trolling the Internet for new victims . But that law `` broadly prohibits substantial protected speech rather than specifically targeting the evil of improper communications to minors , '' a three-judge panel of the 7th U.S . Circuit Court of Appeals concluded . State courts can impose limits on social media as a condition of a sex offender 's probation or parole , but a `` blanket ban '' on Internet use violates the First Amendment 's guarantee of free expression , the judges found . A district judge in Indianapolis had upheld the law in June , but federal courts in at least two other states -- Nebraska and Louisiana -- struck down similar state laws in 2012 . The Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union challenged the statute on behalf of an offender identified only as `` John Doe , '' who had served 21 months in prison for child exploitation . `` Doe '' was released in 2003 and is n't on parole or probation , but was covered by the state ban . Ken Falk , the group 's legal director , said Indiana already has laws on the books barring the solicitiation of children , with enhanced penalties for inappropriate communications online . The law overturned Wednesday barred the `` completely innocent '' use of social media , he said . `` If you wanted to participate in a chat room to work around a candidate , you ca n't do that , '' he said . `` If you want to follow the pope on Twitter , you ca n't do that . '' News websites increasingly require commenters to log in via a social network , and Falk said `` Doe '' could n't supervise his own child 's use of social media under the law . Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said his office has not decided whether to appeal the ruling . `` The Indiana Legislature made a policy decision in 2008 that the state 's reasonable interests in protecting children from predators outweighed the interest of allowing convicted sex offenders to troll social media for information , '' Zoeller said in a statement issued by his office . `` We have worked with county sheriffs and prosecutors in our defense of the legal challenges to these protections of our children , and we will need to review this 7th Circuit ruling to determine the state 's next steps . '' Facebook , the largest social media platform , already bars sex offenders from using the site under its Statement of Rights and Responsibilities states . It also prohibits children under 13 and multiple accounts on the site . In the past , Facebook has worked with various states on legislation to help law enforcement find , prosecute and convict sexual predators who attempt to use the site . Defense battles social media blizzard in Ohio rape case .
NEW : The Indiana law banned `` completely innocent '' conduct , the ACLU argued . It was a ban on speech that is protected by the First Amendment and not just speech about abortion or gay marriage. The state 's attorney general said the law protected `` reasonable interests '' Indiana ca n't slap a `` blanket ban '' on social media for sex offenders , court finds . Federal judges have struck down similar bans in Nebraska and Louisiana .