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Supreme Court Won't Hear ACLU Wiretap Case

Posted by kdawson on from the standing-knee-deep-in-paradox dept.

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "The US Supreme Court refused without comment the ACLU's appeal of a lower court ruling that prevented them from suing over the government's warrantless TSP program. The problem was a Catch-22: they lack legal 'standing' to sue over it because they can't prove that they were suspected terrorists, but neither can they find out who was actually suspected, because this is a matter of national security." Update: 02/20 00:17 GMT by KD : Removed an incorrect statement after a reader pointed out that, with the expiration of the Protect America Act this weekend, foreign surveillance will revert to oversight by the FISA court.

7 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. In other words by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you can sue us, we'll let you know, unless we consider that to be a secret.

  2. Re:Must be a terrorist to challenge the law? by milsoRgen · · Score: 3, Funny

    Let me get this straight - we will have to rely on a suspected terrorist to sue for this to go forward? That shouldn't worry you at all, what our government considers a terrorist is so broad I don't think we would have to rely on your atypical camel-riding-cave-dweller to move this forward. Just someone who get the label by our dangerous and overzealous government.
    --
    I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask where they're goin' and hook up with 'em later.
  3. Too many Yoda references by spun · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Slashdot posters make.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  4. Re:Those of us with something to hide... by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'll admit up front: I have things to hide.

    Oooh, are you into BBW too?

    --
    I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
  5. The Argument Sketch by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well?
    Well what?
    You're listening to my phone calls and it's not a secret.
    I told you, you're not allowed to sue me unless you know my secret.
    But I do!
    No you don't.
    I DO!
    No you don't.
    Look, I don't want you spying on me.
    Well, that's a secret.
    Aha. If it's a secret, I must be a terrorist, so it's not a secret anymore! I got you!
    No you haven't.
    Yes I have. If it's an official government secret that you're spying on me, I must be a terrorist.
    Not necessarily. I could be listening to your phone calls in my spare time.

  6. Re:Those of us with something to hide... by garett_spencley · · Score: 4, Funny

    "I'll admit up front: I have things to hide. Dirty little secrets that are none of your business, and that the government doesn't need to know. Things that are embarrassing, things that could be used to damage my reputation, nothing particularly dangerous, but stuff that should be between me, myself, and I, and no one else."

    Like what ?

  7. And then they could post it on Wikileaks... by PRMan · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh, wait...

    --
    Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...