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Icelandic MP To Challenge US Court Ruling On Twitter Privacy

Posted by Soulskill on from the ain't-over-'till-it's-over dept.

JabrTheHut writes "The Guardian has a story of how Icelandic MP Birgitta Jonsdottir, a former WikiLeaks volunteer, is challenging the U.S.'s acquisition of Twitter account information, IP addresses, mailing addresses and even bank information. The U.S. says it wanted these details to help with its investigation into WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Jonsdottir said, 'This is a huge blow for everybody that uses social media. We have to have the same civil rights online as we have offline. Imagine if the U.S. authorities wanted to do a house search at my home, go through my private papers. There would be a hell of a fight. It's absolutely unacceptable.'"

5 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Good luck with that by hedwards · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Twitter is based in the US and has servers here. Ultimately they will have to comply with US law whether or not that's good for anybody.

    1. Re:Good luck with that by saleenS281 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Right, and she's arguing that her online account should be subject to US search and seizure laws. The Government completely bypassed their own rules, claiming because it's online they can ignore your right to privacy, and the need to get a warrant to obtain the information.

  2. Re:Tweets are not private papers by flaming+error · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And our "addresses, mailing addresses and even bank information" are not the same thing as our tweets.

  3. "the same civil rights online as we have offline' by flaming+error · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "We have to have the same civil rights online as we have offline."

    I think she'll get no argument there from the Dept of Homeland Security.

    Unfortunately, the DHS (literally translated to Russian, the acronym would be "KGB") seems to think there are none in either place.

  4. Re:Amerika! by Rei · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm from America, and am posting this as I'm being driven to the airport to catch a flight to Reykjavík to sign work and residence permit applications with my new employer. ;) To anyone who's never been there: Iceland is just plain awesome. And to anyone who has the attitude of, "I wish I could move to X place..." -- don't be complacent. You *can* make a change in your life. It's not fantasy; people do it all the time. Right now: pull up a web browser, find an overseas job site, and start applying. :)

    --
    Future headline #86: "GM to Recall Three Remaining Cars"