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IT and A National Security Letter Gag Order

Posted by Zonk on from the land-that-i-love dept.

fstyke writes "An article in the Washington Post (anonymous for obvious reasons) describes the trauma the president of a small US IT company faces after receiving a National Security Letter. This is sent by the FBI demanding information (140000+ have been sent between 2003/2005 according to the article). Makes for an interesting read of the side effects of receiving such a letter and its requirements for the recipient to remain silent about even the fact he/she has received it.'The letter ordered me to provide sensitive information about one of my clients. There was no indication that a judge had reviewed or approved the letter, and it turned out that none had. The letter came with a gag provision that prohibited me from telling anyone, including my client, that the FBI was seeking this information. Based on the context of the demand -- a context that the FBI still won't let me discuss publicly -- I suspected that the FBI was abusing its power and that the letter sought information to which the FBI was not entitled.'"

4 of 468 comments (clear)

  1. Used to be a free country... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    before the Patriot Act!

    posted anonymously for obvious reasons!

  2. Re:In liberal America .. by BESTouff · · Score: 0, Troll

    Oh yes, sorry, it's true you have the "liberal" meaning reversed over there ... I think I just meant the opposite you think I meant with this word.

  3. Re:Hopeful thinking....(how about this?) by azrider · · Score: 0, Troll

    So: specifically ask John Edwards, or Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama if they would ask congress to kill it off (since that's all they can do), and see what they say.
    Given that GWB is the master of the signing statement a.k.a "I won't veto it, I'll just ignore it", and based on the current admin's stance that "the C-in-C can do anything in time of war", what would stop the new C-in-C from issuing an executive order abolishing the Patriot Act?
    --
    And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
    John 8:32(King James Version)
  4. Re:Hopeful thinking.... by UdoKeir · · Score: 0, Troll

    People can't bitch about the poor intelligence sharing/processing lapses leading up to 9/11, and also bitch about the piece of legislation that fixes the problem

    There were FBI agents reporting suspicious activity by the 9/11 hijackers. There were US citizens reporting suspicious activity by the 9/11 hijackers. The FBI chose to ignore it. They had all the power they needed to stop the hijackings and the top brass weren't interested.

    You, sir, are a troll or a dick.