Indymedia Seizures Initiated In Europe

daveschroeder writes "According to this Indymedia.org article and AFP report, the request to seize Indymedia servers hosted by a U.S. company in the UK (covered in this previous slashdot story) originated from government agencies in Italy and Switzerland, not the United States. Because Indymedia's hosting company, Rackspace.com, is a U.S. company, the FBI coordinated the request and accompanied UK Metropolitan Police on the seizure under the auspices of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), an international legal treaty, but, according to an FBI spokesman, 'It is not an FBI operation. Through [MLAT], the subpoena was on behalf of a third country.'" Read on below for more.

daveschroeder continues: "Rackspace's statement reads, 'In the present matter regarding Indymedia, Rackspace Managed Hosting, a U.S. based company with offices in London, is acting in compliance with a court order pursuant to a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), which establishes procedures for countries to assist each other in investigations such as international terrorism, kidnapping and money laundering. Rackspace responded to a Commissioner's subpoena, duly issued under Title 28, United States Code, Section 1782 in an investigation that did not arise in the United States. Rackspace is acting as a good corporate citizen and is cooperating with international law enforcement authorities. The court prohibits Rackspace from commenting further on this matter.'"

Comments

Oh no!

[Anonymous Coward]

Europe's not perfect! The United States isn't always the bad guy! Panic erupts on Slashdot.

Perhaps...?

[robyannetta]

Perhaps they should have been hosted in SeaLand?

Re:Just like Echelon . . .

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, J. Edgar Hoover preferred it through the back door, if you're grokking my FAQ.

(Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

Re:Just like Echelon . . .

[Waffle Iron]

Furthermore, Echelon begins with an 'E', while MLAT begins with an 'M'. Obviously, they have no similarities whatsoever.

Re:Cry wolf

[Pig Hogger]

The American asked how the KGB agent had left and gone unnoticed for two whole years. The agent responded, "The day I left there was a car accident and my car was burned up with bodies inside. When you work for the KGB it isn't difficult to get ahold of bodies."

What's amazing is that the russian was allowed to have a car in the first place...

Re:Cry wolf

[killjoe]

"I was unaware that the U.S. had a monopoly on such "scandals.""

Whoo Hoo. We are no better then Russia and China. Damn I feel proud to be an American. All we have to strive for is to be no worse then anybody else.

Re:Just like Echelon . . .

[36-bitter]

Wait...you mean, all the evil antitechnology government goons are *not* working for the U.S.? Do I hear heads exploding all around the globe?

Re:Just like Echelon . . .

[CalCudahy]

B. Place the U.S. on probation to end its imperial ambitions or be removed from the security council

"U.N., you got a problem with that, know what you should do? You should sanction me. Sanction me with your army. OH! WAIT A MINUTE! YOU DON'T HAVE AN ARMY! I guess that means you need to shut the fuck up! That's what I'd do if I didn't have no army, I would shut the fuck up. Shut - the - FUCK - UP! That's right!"

Chappelle's Show - Black Bush

Re:Cry wolf

[maxpublic]

and fear makes people do crazy things.

And my answer to this is "so the fuck what?" What does it matter if a bunch of extremists in the Middle East destroy each other by nuclear or conventional means? It won't matter for dick to the citizens of the United States; whatever pissant tribe of nutbags ends up in control of the oil will *still* sell to us, so why should we give a damn?

Max