Feds Want To Unmask Internet Commenters Writing About the Silk Road Trial Judge

An anonymous reader writes: A grand jury subpoena, obtained by Ken White of the law blog Popehat, demands that libertarian news magazine Reason hand over "any and all identifying information" about certain commenters posting on an article published May 31st, "Silk Road Trial: Read Ross Ulbricht's Haunting Sentencing Letter to Judge." The subpoena cites a law against "interstate threats" as the reason for demanding the information, which the Supreme Court very recently decided must include real intent.

As White points out, the comments — repugnant as they are — may very well not constitute a true threat, as they aren't directed at the judge and don't detail any real plans for violence. The kicker: although it's possible to fight the subpoena, precedent suggests the U.S. Attorney's office may have the power to obtain the information anyway. However the situation shakes out, this isn't nearly the first fight over commenter anonymity and the First Amendment, and certainly won't be the last.

Comments

Re:Hiding behind anonymity

[TheCarp]

I dunno I get pretty inpolite about a lot of these issues even in person. we are talking about people who enforce laws that are far more repugnant than anything said here. There is no justification at all for drug laws or suffering the tyranny lovers who make and enforce them.

They deserve to be insulted, and put in their place amongst the worst criminals in human history.

Though, I have just about kicked a guy out of my house for admitting he was a on a jury that found someone guilty of drug laws, so much for anonymity.