Slashdot Mirror
FBI Investigating Lamo Via Patriot Act Provision
umm qasr writes "Mark Rasch, a columnist for SecurityFocus wrote in his Register-reprinted column that the FBI has sent a letter, invoking provisions of the Patriot Act, to journalists reporting on the Adrian Lamo case: 'The letters warn them to expect subpoenas for all documents relating to the hacker, including, apparently, their own notes, e-mails, impressions, interviews with third parties, independent investigations, privileged conversations and communications, off the record statements, and expense and travel reports related to stories about Lamo.' Good to see that our First Amendment rights are being upheld by the FBI."
What does the first ammendment have to do with anything mentioned in the article or summary? There is no restriction of free speech by Congress, nothing about peaceful assembly, establishment or exercise of religion, or freedom of the press. Perhaps the editors might try reading the Constitution before throwing it around in pissy anti-government tirades.
Oblig Simps ref. But seriously...
This guy broke the law. Maybe in a way that entertains and interests us, sure, but he broke the law. So the FBI wants to subpoena documents related to the case. From journalists. And?
Imagine this was an investigation about an Enron exec; would all you Slashdotters be gladhanding each other like this? Or, heaven forbid, the Microsoft anti-trust proceedings?
But back to my main point, this looks like a prosecutor playing hard ball. Paper the world with subpoenas, expect the judge to throw some of them out. That happens all the time. In any event, I don't have a problem with reporters' notes being used in criminal proceedings. Gag rule, sure, maybe even kept in chambers.
Begun, this flame war has.
If your bitterest enemies are people who hack the heads off civilians, then I would say you're doing something right.