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NYC Lawyers Subpoena Code

Posted by Zonk on from the just-trying-to-get-along dept.

RonMcMahon writes "Lawyers for the city of New York have subpoenaed the text message records of thousands of people involved in demonstrations at the 2004 Republican National Convention. Tad Hirsch, creator of the TXTmob code that enabled convention demonstrators to transmit messages to thousands of telephones, has been instructed to release the content of messages exchanged on the service and to identify people who sent and received messages. Hirsch argues that release of such information would be a violation of users' First Amendment and privacy rights. 'I think I have a moral responsibility to the people who use my service to protect their privacy,' said Hirsch."

6 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. LEARN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    They cannot subpoena logs that you don't keep.

  2. Re:Subpoena? by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 5, Informative

    But that's not really what is being requested. As often happens, the slash headline doesn't represent the slash article. Neither appears to represent what's said in the real article. The code wasn't subponaed, the author was. What they are looking for are lists of texters and the text contents.

  3. Anonymous political speech by dreamchaser · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Anonymous political speech has a long tradition in the US. Many of our founding fathers hid behind pseudonyms while writing many of what are termed 'The Federalist Papers' which laid much of the groundwork for the US Constitution.

    If the messages were inciting people to break the law I could possibly understand, but on the face of what few facts I have on the subject right now my knee wants to jerk right into the Government's jaw a few times.

  4. Re:Yahoo by Yvanhoe · · Score: 5, Informative

    Don't click this link, it is malicious.

    --
    The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
  5. Re:Messages are ephemeral by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Funny

    You don't know me. Sure I do. You're BadAnalogyGuy.

    You don't know whether it is really me writing this or someone pretending to be me. Mmmm...it's you. Just a guess though.

    You don't know how many "me"s there are behind this nickname. 42?

    You don't know how many other accounts I have that pretend to be someone besides me. 6

    Which me is the real me? You!

    Which you is the real you? Me!

    Which way to Kathmandu? That way! ===>

    Would you, could you in a car? From afar? Or with a jar?

    Eat them, eat them! Here they are. Mmmmmm...burgers from a bar?

    --
    My blog
  6. 2004 Republican National Convention in NYC by myspace-cn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    For those who have forgotten (or never heard about) the whole unconstitutional ordeal.
    http://www.2600.com/rnc2004/index.html

    Down with Amurkan fascists! And their plastic orange fences.
    We have all gone to look for America.