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Effects of the Patriot Act on Librarians

Posted by michael on from the fbi-in-your-library dept.

Quaryon writes "The Patriot Act apears to have some chilling effects with respect to libraries and booksellers. An FBI agent can get a warrant, without any evidence, in order to compel a librarian to reveal lending details on a suspect. The librarian cannot tell anyone about the search, including the target of the search, and the details of how many such searches are done are not made public. Articles at SFGate News and Common Dreams give more details." We had a related Ask Slashdot a few weeks ago.

3 of 552 comments (clear)

  1. How far will it go? by bunyip · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Well, I'll tell you......

    The future of libraries and information is clearly online, correct? So, by logical extension, this law would apply to Slashdot, would it not?

    So, if you mod me down, the FBI might subpoena Cowboy Neal to tell them you did it and you will never know!

    Are your moderation choices in accordance with the correct political views as defined by your elected representatives in Washington?

  2. PeguinLord likes to ride his bike by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    But only in a cicle, and with big knobby tires.

    -W

  3. Put those Librarians to work! by neildiamond · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It's time to make librarians do more than just sit there and read!!!

    (Just kidding. I used to date a librarian.)