Justice Dept. Asked For News Site's Visitor Lists

Taking Liberties ^ | Nov. 10,09 | Declan McCullagh

[nutsonthebus]

(AP / CBS)In a case that raises questions about online journalism and privacy rights, the U.S. Department of Justice sent a formal request to an independent news site ordering it to provide details of all reader visits on a certain day.

The grand jury subpoena also required the Philadelphia-based Indymedia.us Web site "not to disclose the existence of this request" unless authorized by the Justice Department, a gag order that presents an unusual quandary for any news organization.

[nutsonthebus]

Eric Holder's persecution of those who would dare visit web newsites. Freedom of the press and our First Amendment Rights are under seige! As always, we've posted a link at www.daveweinbaum.com to make it easier for you to find.

[CedarDave]

My first reading of the headline was “Justice Dept. Asked FoX News Site’s Visitor Lists” which would be in keeping with Obama’s war on Fox.

[the invisib1e hand]

when they get the data (and they will get the data. either by force, or some insider will cut a deal) it will be "public record."

Don't kid yourself: there is no privacy.

[silverleaf]

liberals are people who accept this without question and get wee’d wee’d up over the mayor of Wasilla asking the local library about a constituent complaint that adult material was open-shelved instead of behind the counter

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

liberals are people who accept this without question and get wee’d wee’d up over the mayor of Wasilla asking the local library about a constituent complaint that adult material was open-shelved instead of behind the counter

Except that Indymedia is an ultra-lefty site, and instead of accepting this without question they challenged it and forced the DOJ to withdraw the subpoena.

[Fred Hayek]

IndyMedia is a lefty moonbat site. They were quite prominent during the antiglobalist riots in Seattle and Los Angeles. That said, this can set some dangerous precedents across the board.

[taraytarah]

The subpoena (PDF) from U.S. Attorney Tim Morrison in Indianapolis demanded "all IP traffic to and from www.indymedia.us" on June 25, 2008. It instructed Clair to "include IP addresses, times, and any other identifying information," including e-mail addresses, physical addresses, registered accounts, and Indymedia readers' Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and so on.

.....Morrison replied in a one-sentence letter saying the subpoena had been withdrawn. Around the same time, according to the EFF, the group had a series of discussions with assistant U.S. attorneys in Morrison's office who threatened Clair with possible prosecution for obstruction of justice if she disclosed the existence of the already-withdrawn subpoena -- claiming it "may endanger someone's health" and would have a "human cost."

The ObamaWorld ignorant Americans voted for.

[realr]

Agree with you concerning Eric Holder. BUT...the request was made in the summer of 2008, while President Bush was still president.

[2ndDivisionVet]

So it begins...

BLOAT!!

[pepsi_junkie]

In related news, Justice Department does not seek any information on anyone who ever visited Al Jazeera. In fact, if you can prove you did once visit Al Jazeera and you agreed with anything on that site, you are certified as “not a terrorist” and will be immune from prosecution for fear of the backlash against peace-loving Al Jazeera readers.