Justice Dept. Asked For News Site's Visitor Lists

[ET Awful]

Source: 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.

Kristina Clair, a 34-year old Linux administrator living in Philadelphia who provides free server space for Indymedia.us, said she was shocked to receive the Justice Department's subpoena. (The Independent Media Center is a left-of-center amalgamation of journalists and advocates that – according to their principles of unity and mission statement – work toward "promoting social and economic justice" and "social change.") (see link for rest of article)

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/09/taking_liberties/entry5595506.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

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Looking at the dates on the subpoena and the dates in question, I'd have to say that

(A) Since the subpoena was issued on 1/23/09, it was most likely prepared prior to that.
(B) It was issued by a US attorney appointed by the Bush administration
(C) The date they were looking for information on coincides with Chris Dodd's speech in the Senate regarding the FISA reform act.

Anyway, any thoughts?

[niyad]

1. I doubt things are going to change very much. one wonders why the govt is not going after

the reichwing media--beck, etc., who are actually issuing treasonous threats on the air, and in print, just for starters.

[drdtroit]

4. Because they work for the owners. n/t

[newblewtoo]

2. In light of the recent

events at Fort Hood this could prompt some interesting conspiracy speculation. I just don't have enough tinfoil on hand to start that conversation. Dodds filibuster of the FISA bill did not gain him friends in the intelligence community.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. Link to filibuster?

[newblewtoo]

9. try a google on

dodd + fisa filibuster

There should be plenty of articles available from a variety of sources, here is just one:




http://firedoglake.com/2007/12/16/dodd-fisa-and-the-filibuster-how-its-going-to-go-down-and-what-you-can-do/


I am doubtful this has anything to do with Dodd but you never know I guess. Who knows what can happen when you upset the spook community.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. A threatened filibuster is not a filibuster.

[newblewtoo]

12. Agreed.

However, in this case the result was the same.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2007/12/dodd-filibuster/

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. I know/knew/was aware of the result.

My point was "show me the filibuster."

[nashville_brook]

3. holy crap -- kicking for visibility. who knew Indymedia was so... relevant/powerful/threatening.

and, how come they're not asking for visitor logs on sites openly/aggressively promoting violence against the prez? it's an old subpeona, but, sheesh.

[NorthCarolina]

5. Kick!!! nt

[tyne]

7. Just an fyi

This is all over rw blogs and Beck.....

Unfortunately for them and, as usual, they didn't even think it through before knee-jerking.

They didn't stop to realize that the US attorney (Morrison) who filed the bogus subpoena was a Bush AG appointment.

And now there's an update on the CBS story saying that Morrison didn't even go through Filip (interim AG before Holder) for the subpoena.

And what did they (rw whackos) decide was the motive for Obama demanding IP addresses from ONE day (June of 2008)? He wanted more names for his WH e-mailing address book.

Gotta love 'em.

[Cherchez la Femme]

8. And we still have the "Bushies"

proud, avowed Bushie D.A.'s,
in a new, Democratic administration.

'Through the looking glass' doesn't even cover it anymore...


edit: GREAT little kitties you've got there! :D

[Doctor_J]

11. Sounds like the Bush DoJ engaging in some terrorism

on their way out the door. Not surprising