( CNN ) -- A U.S. court of appeals gave Facebook a thumbs up on Wednesday when it ruled that `` likes '' on the social network are protected as free speech under the Constitution . In 2009 , six employees at the Hampton Sheriff 's Office in Virginia lost their jobs after expressing support for their boss ' opponent in an upcoming election for sheriff , some by liking and commenting on the opponent 's Facebook page . U.S . Circuit Judge William Traxler found that `` liking '' something on the social network was the `` Internet equivalent of displaying a political sign in one 's front yard , '' an act the Supreme Court has already ruled as protected speech . The decision from the 4th U.S . Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond , Virginia , was a reversal of an earlier ruling on the case , in which District Judge Raymond Jackson said liking a Facebook page was `` insufficient speech to merit constitutional protection . '' Other courts have ruled that posts on the social network are protected as free speech , but Jackson differentiated between making full statements and just clicking a button to like something . Two of the employees , Deputy Daniel Carter and Robert McCoy , claimed they were fired by Sheriff B.J . Roberts specifically for liking a Facebook profile for Roberts ' opponent , Jim Adams . The two also posted messages showing their support on Adam 's Facebook page . Eventually , McCoy said he removed his post on Facebook after co-workers asked him why he 'd risked his job so close to retirement . Roberts allegedly confronted Carter and said , `` You made your bed , and now you 're going to lie in it -- after the election , you 're gone . '' When Roberts won his bid for re-election , he did not reinstate a number of employees , including Carter . Facebook and the American Civil Liberties Union became involved with the case , both filing friend of the court briefs . `` The Constitution does n't distinguish between 'liking ' a candidate on Facebook and supporting him in a town meeting or public rally , '' the ACLU 's Ben Wizner said in a statement . School district hires firm to monitor students ' social media . Twitter faces new pressure to limit hate speech . University suspends fraternity over Facebook posts .
4th U.S . Circuit Court of Appeals rules clicking `` like '' on Facebook is protected as free speech . Employees claimed they were fired after `` liking '' their boss ' opponent in an election . This decision reverses an earlier ruling that said `` likes '' were just button presses .