Justice Department Walks Back Demand For Information On Anti-Trump Website (theverge.com)

After issuing a warrant to DreamHost for "all files" related to an anti-trump website, the Justice Department says it's scaling back a demand for information from hosting service DreamHost. The Verge reports: In a legal filing today, the Justice Department argues that the warrant was proper, but also says DreamHost has since brought up information that was previously "unknown." In light of that, it has offered to carve out information demanded in the warrant, specifically pledging to not request information like HTTP logs tied to IP addresses. The department says it is only looking for information related to criminal activity on the site, and says that "the government is focused on the use of the Website to organize, to plan, and to effect a criminal act -- that is, a riot." Peaceful protestors, the government argues, are not the targets of the warrant. The filing asks the court to proceed with the new, less burdensome request, which, apart from the carved-out sections, still requests "all records or other information, pertaining to the Account, including all files, databases, and database records stored by DreamHost in relation to that Account." It's unclear if DreamHost will continue to fight the new demand.

Comments

Realized it was in the NSA database

[WillAffleckUW]

Stored as "metadata".

Same thing.

"We drew too much attention.."

[Rick Schumann]

Translation:

We drew too much attention from the media and the general public with our outlandish search warrant, so rather than take all the heat for what amounted to an overreach, we (quote-unquote) 'scaled back the request' so we don't look like the jackbooted thugs we actually are.

Pro-tip for you, guys: You still look like jackbooted thugs.

Re: This is fine

[MightyMartian]

You have the right to free speech and privacy. But if you make your views known publicly, you can't assume you'll somehow magically be immune from the consequences. Want to be a Nazi in your basement, go right ahead. Want to be a Nazi out in the town square, then you have voluntarily surrendered your rights to privacy, and if your friends, family and employer no longer want to be associated with you because you believe the white race is superior and all the Jews and brown skinned people should be chased off, well, that's tough on you.

Re:This is fine

[Known Nutter]

One major issue with the current political climate -- which you two have just perfectly demonstrated -- is the all or nothing approach, like the misguided loyalty to a football team that is so common in the US. Next to zero critical thinking or consideration of opposing views in current political discourse. Left vs Right -- that's all it is anymore. My side is always correct.

Seems to be an anti-evolutionary and stupid approach to matters of critical importance, in my opinion.

Re: This is fine

[Anonymous Coward]

Except that being a Nazi in most parts of the Western world are viewed as far worse than being an antifa thug. Sorry, that's just the way it is.

You can't justify bad behavior by saying the other side is worse. Neither are acceptable. Sorry, that's just the way it is.

Re:This is fine

[PopeRatzo]

One major issue with the current political climate -- which you two have just perfectly demonstrated -- is the all or nothing approach, like the misguided loyalty to a football team that is so common in the US. Next to zero critical thinking or consideration of opposing views in current political discourse. Left vs Right -- that's all it is anymore. My side is always correct.

Seems to be an anti-evolutionary and stupid approach to matters of critical importance, in my opinion.

I agree , too.

However, BlueStrat is demonstrably wrong, has a history of being demonstrably wrong, and comes from a long line of people who are demonstrably wrong. Oh, and "stupid". I have extensive data and metrics to prove it.

While that may be true

[rsilvergun]

the percentage of Americans identifying as and with Jackbooted thugs has been on the upswing.

Re:While that may be true

[AmiMoJo]

When you get people like that at the very top, it normalizes their behaviour and views. That's why Trump's opponents keep saying "this is not normal".